Food System Research
At the Center for an Agricultural Economy, we know it is crucial to measure the impact of our activities through the monitoring and evaluation process.
Specifically, the CAE measures the health and vitality of our local food system and the impact that it is making on the local community. In this way, CAE has evidence that taking certain steps to increase local self-sufficiency with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture makes a positive impact on the social, economic, and environmental health of our community.
This information is used to justify certain projects, to know what is working and further successful initiatives, or for other communities to use if they are looking to follow a path similar to the Hardwick area.
Gathering the recommended data will establish a “snapshot”, or baseline, of where the Hardwick community is today in regard to the strength of the local food system and the vitality of the agricultural economy in the area. In the future, these same systems and measures will be implemented at regular, pre-determined intervals. This will allow CAE to measure the progress that our community has made.
- Soils Monitoring Report for the greater Hardwick area, 2012
- Local Foods Research Report, 2011
- NEK Food Systems Research, 2011