Students present ideas for improving food justice, local and sustainable food, and community and urban farming at the Massachusetts Statehouse
On December 4th students in the class Research for Environmental Agencies and Organizations presented their ideas for fostering sustainable farming to benefit communities – including those in need of fresh food – to Representative Hannah Kane of the Food Policy Council, to legislative staff, and to officials of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), in a hearing room at the Statehouse. Natalia Tanko, Will Chang, Alana Danison and Madeleine Mattson described case studies of community and urban farms that feed and educate local residents and children in inner city neighborhoods, how the agricultural preservation tax provisions could be expanded to support these efforts, how the state could help restaurants to source locally and sustainably produced food, and how these efforts fit into a larger vision of food sustainability for the region. The presentations were highly lauded and invitations were received, to continue working, on legislation, policy and programs to make the vision a reality. Pictured below, from left to right: Natalia Tanko, Rose Arruda (MDAR), Jen Boudrie (MDAR), Rick Reibstein (course instructor), Will Chang, Representative Hannah Kane, Alana Danison, Madeleine Mattson, and Bonita Oehlke (MDAR). Not shown: Anna Darrow,Immaculate Nyaigoti (Aides).