Appendix III: 44 Non-Regulatory Ways Farming and the Environment (and Some Social Areas) Come Together Productively—or Could: Resources for How One Sector Could be an Example of Innovative Action & a Re-Thinking of the Overall Economic/Environmental Relationship
Matt Polsky
“The land ethic simply enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants, and animals, or collectively: the land… A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.” (Aldo Leopold)
Farmers’ Customers: Industrial (Wholesalers, Food Companies, Retailers, Restauranteurs) and Health and Environmentally-conscious Consumers Increasing their Sustainability Expectations and Making More Demands on Farmers
(Consumers’ interest in health and the environment, and therefore demand for more information about their food is not likely to go away. Therefore, it’s an opportunity, as well as a threat.)
https://www.fooddive.com/news/sustainability-pledges-are-no-longer-a-luxury-for-big- food/513241/ https://www.drbronner.com/all-one-blog/2018/01/moving-towards-regenerative-organic- certification/ https://shift.newco.co/amazon-whole-foods-could-transform-us-farming-6f733651ef6d https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2012/06/26/does-only-selling-sustainable-seafood-work-a-qa- with-whole-foods/ https://news.stanford.edu/2018/01/09/grocery-store-programs-improve-farmers-environmental- practices/ http://earthwatch.org/corporate-partnerships/partnership-profiles/starbucks-coffee-company
Farming of New Crops with Untapped Market Potential
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/12/26/572100613/americans-love-spices-so-why-don- t-we-grow-them https://www.mnn.com/money/green-workplace/stories/farmers-milkweed-parkas https://www.greenbiz.com/article/these-14-businesses-are-growing-money-trees https://www.facebook.com/events/1773663932933991/ http://foodpolicy.rutgers.edu/research.asp?id=6
http://foodpolicy.rutgers.edu/research.asp?id=51
Grain project through a partnership between a winery (Villa Milagro Vineyards), a few farmers, and an environmental group
Ethnic foods http://foodpolicy.rutgers.edu/research.asp?id=60. http://sustainable- farming.rutgers.edu/alternative-world-crops/
Excerpt from a memo after hearing a lecture at Ramapo College by the owner of Meadows Bee Farm:
Untapped Markets
In response to my direct question about what crops farmers can grow for which there are untapped markets in New Jersey she referred me to the work of Lee Reich. (See some of the products listed at: http://www.leereich.com/lectures).
She mentioned poplars, persimmons could be turned into yogurt, and elderberry, whose flower could be used for batter for flour.
At other times, on the same subject, she mentioned: dandelions, cranberry viburnum, fruit trees, linden trees (whose crop could be used instead of lettuce). She added “bugs will be the next big thing,” and “we will have to start” eating them!
When I posed a question about a necessary yield reduction with her biodynamic methods, she said her “biggest problem is what to do with all the food she grows!”
Entrepreneurialism
As an ‘eco-products entrepreneur,’ she offered these suggestions: use weeds like nettle and dandelions for tinctures, teas, and wine. These could be sold on-line or through Etsy, ‘with great mark-ups.’ These have to be property cleaned, labeled, and documented, with a caution about making health claims, particularly those against state laws. Medical advice should not be given.”
Extending the Growing and Farmers Market Season
http://sustainable-farming.rutgers.edu/high-tunnels-in-new-jersey/ http://eastonfarmersmarket.com/hours/
Incentive of an EV Charging Station say at a Possible New Rt. 80, Exit 12 Farmers Market
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/17/12/17/in-nj-electric-vehicles-could-be-key-to-economic- environmental- progress/?
New Industrial (Non-food or Partially Non-Food) Products from Farming (or Farm Waste) such as for clothing, art, medicine and health, etc.
http://dukefarms.org/classes–events/event-detail?id=40839866139 http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionConservation/SAVE/SunflowerSeeds.aspx (currently inactive) https://www.curbed.com/2017/11/29/16715530/biological-house-een-til-een-gxn-denmark http://plantbiology.rutgers.edu/natural_products_human_health.html https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/local/2015/08/07/long-valley-doctor-uses-farm-food- heal/31313289/
http://www.newtrient.com/
Excerpt from notice from NJDEP’s Sustainable Business Initiative:
“In exactly one month from today, Earth Friendly Products will be hosting a tour of their facility in Parsippany, NJ! The tour will take place on February 22, 2018. Registration for the tour will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the tour starting at 10 a.m.
In its entirety the tour should be an hour long.
Earth Friendly Products is a manufacturing plant that produces household cleaning products that are derived from renewable resources and plant-base materials. Earth Friendly Products is a member of the New Jersey Sustainable Business Registry and has received numerous awards regarding their sustainable practices!
Join us to learn more about what they do and to see a tour of a sustainable manufacturing plant in action!
Event Details: Thursday, February 22, 2018 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Earth Friendly Products Manufacturing Plant, 50 Lackawanna Ave, Parsippany, NJ 07054
Gina Gambacorto
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Energy and Sustainability
401 East State Street
Trenton, NJ 08625
609.292.6814
Gina.Gambacorto@dep.nj.gov
Incentives Offered by Another State
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/03/16/520281317/how-to-make-farmers-love-cover- crops-pay-them
Farmer Participation in a Food Hub to Address Distributional Challenges, Increase Availability of Locally Produced Food, and Find New Customers
http://foodshedalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PlanDesignR1.pdf
“http://ecotrust.org/project/foodhub/”
Farmers with Different Philosophies Getting Together to Learn from each other No known precedents or outlets.
Local Food Interest Networking
“http://foodshedalliance.org/green-drinks/”
Farmland Preservation
http://www.co.warren.nj.us/Land%20Preservation%20Dept/CADB.html
Food Processing Businesses
Sustainable Food Systems Means Improving Production and Processing
Farmer Participation in NJRC&D’s or Environmental Group’s Environmental Certification Program
http://northjerseyrcd.org/our-projects/river-friendly-farm-certification-program/ Farmer Participation in Environmental Group’s “Farm Day” http://explorewarren.org/node/1899
Other Farmer/Environmentalist Partnerships
https://www.landolakesinc.com/Blog/November-2016/A-first-of-its-kind-partnership
http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/news/press/2007/approved/press071002.html http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionConservation/StewardshipProgam/StewardshipBlog/t abid/2006/entryid/323/Cooking-with-Future-Farmers.aspx (currently inactive) http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/community/article_bc0c488e-8147-11e6-99cd- 3b13bd8366f5.html
http://www.njaudubon.org/default.aspx?tabid=2061 (currently inactive)
https:www.cabotcheese.coop/vital-capital-index
Farmer Utilization of North Jersey RC&D Programs– and Promotion of It
Farmer Utilization of State and Federal Incentives Programs for Wildlife and Other Conservation Programs—and Promotion of It
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/programs/financial/eqip/?cid=s
http://www.njaudubon.org/Portals/10/Conservation/PDF/IncentiveGuide.pdf (currently inactive)
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/whipart03.htm https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/nj/programs/ http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/feature/salem.html http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/grants/sare.html http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/grants/soil.html http://nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/md/prog/jerseyorganic.html http://nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/md/prog/thirdpartyaudit.html https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/programs/?cid=nrcs143_0082 24
http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/grants/farmersmarket.html
Farmer Participation in a NJDEP Initiative That Promotes and/or Recognizes Better-than- Required Environmental Performance
Sustainable Business Initiative, Waste Wise, Environmental Stewardship Initiative Farmer Joining of New Jersey Sustainable Business Alliance and/or E2 Association
Associations of businesses promoting government policy that supports sustainable business at the state and federal levels. http://asbcouncil.org/membership/member- organizations/profile/new-jersey-sustainable-business-council#.WmY1l6inETg https://www.e2.org/
Farmers Practicing Corporate Social Responsibility and Promoting It
“How Sustainability Helps Farm Businesses Grow” https://www.agweb.com/article/how- sustainability-helps-farm-businesses-grow-naa-nate-birt/ (An unusually good article, covering a number of the bases above and below.)
Such as through the Global Reporting Index, issuing a Sustainability Report. http://www.wildlifehc.org/knowledge-resource/role-of-private-sector-in-species-recovery- protection-2/
Seeking help from the NJ Small Business Development Center on sustainability practices.
http://www.njeda.com/Press-Room/News-Articles/News-Articles/Sustainability-Good-for- Business. Participating in their Sustainable Business Registry. http://registry.njsbdc.com/. http://registry.njsbdc.com/news-events/how-sustainability-helps-farm-businesses-grow Aiming for the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, https://www.unglobalcompact.org/library/4321 http://dukefarms.org/footer/blog/new-era-of-sustainable-farming-at-duke-farms/ Becoming a “B” Corp. https://www.bcorporation.net/what-are-b-corps
From an environmental group:
“From: action=environmentnewjersey.org@mail.salsalabs.net <action=environmentnewjersey.org@mail.salsalabs.net> on behalf of Doug O’Malley, Environment New Jersey Director <action@environmentnewjersey.org>
Subject: How can chefs save bees?
I’m excited to announce our newest project to save the bees.
Earlier this month, we launched the Bee Friendly Food Alliance, a network of chefs, restaurants and others in the food industry who are concerned about what the massive bee die-offs we’ve seen mean for our food supply — and we’re calling for action to save our pollinators.
So far we’ve organized over 65 chefs and restaurant owners to join the alliance, and given the initial buzz on the project, we think it has potential. But we need your help to ramp up our efforts.
Will you help us organize more chefs and others in the food industry to join our call to action by sharing our Facebook post and tagging your favorite chefs and restaurants?
After all, who knows better what we stand to lose if bees go extinct?
Major sources of food could be lost, from a colorful array of fruits and vegetables to coffee, honey and the milk and cheese produced by dairy cows that eat bee-pollinated alfalfa.
The restaurant industry holds a lot of influence — both with policy makers and the producers of our food. The Bee Friendly Food Alliance is uniting chefs and restaurant owners, from family- run pizza shops to fine dining destinations, to wield that insider influence in the defense of bees.
We’re giving chefs, restaurant owners and others in the food industry opportunities to take political action and to educate customers about the vital role bees play in their businesses.
Help us unite more chefs and restaurants to save the bees. Share our post today.
Doug O’Malley, Environment New Jersey Director
https://www.nofany.org/resources/farmers-and-gardeners/farmers-pledge
Farmer Recognition of the Threats from Climate Change, Support and Implementation of Measures to Address It, While Improving Farm Resiliency
http://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/russell-climate-mitigation/ https://thinkprogress.org/trump-farmers-usda-climate-change-86839dd2f8bc/ http://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/russell-climate-mitigation/ (Another unusually good article) http://climatechange.rutgers.edu/resources/climate-change-and-agriculture
Farmers Practicing Some Form of Sustainable Agriculture and Promoting It
Such as organic, permaculture, regenerative, biodynamic agriculture. See this other excerpt from the memo mentioned above after the Ramapo College lecture:
“We’re talking biodynamic agriculture, which seems pretty synonymous with permaculture, perennial farming, agro-forestry; and a somewhat close cousin to organic.”
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-journal-of-alternative- agriculture/article/local-food-systems-and-sustainable- communities/9CA628ACC99277766469B0101E0BAF49
Seek models of leading edge sustainability thinking and practices on farms. https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/may/10/california-winery-eco-friendly- wines-worms
Pollinator Partnerships. http://northjerseyrcd.org/our-projects/pollinator-conservation/. http://pollinator.org/. http://sustainable-farming.rutgers.edu/let-native-pollinators-add-to-your- farms-bottom-line/
Gleaning, with benefits for reputation and possible eligibility for a tax credit.
Farmer Encouragement of Local Municipality to Apply for Bronze/Silver Certification Status, if it has not; and start one or more of the “Local Economies” Green Initiatives as a way(s) to Claim Points Towards Certification
http://www.sustainablejersey.com/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/46
http://www.sustainablejersey.com/actions- certification/actions/?type=1336777436&tx_sjcert_action%5BactionObject%5D=46&tx_sjcert_ action%5Baction%5D=getPDF&tx_sjcert_action%5Bcontroller%5D=Action&cHash=1b94560c 448d3879e884bea71acf08ee http://www.sustainablejersey.com/actions-certification/actions/#open/action/47
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency on the Farm
http://www.njcleanenergy.com/commercial-industrial/home/home
Finding Ways to Utilize Biomass and Bioenergy in Environmentally-Friendly Ways
http://foodpolicy.rutgers.edu/research.asp?id=27
http://strive-bioecon.de/
Carbon Sequestration on Farms
https://www.drbronner.com/all-one-blog/2018/01/moving-towards-regenerative-organic- certification/
Combining Eco and Ag-Tourism and Taking the Latter Further
Offer a Personal Farm Experience to visitors from suburban and urban areas, including on-farm education and work, discussion, and B&B with a host farmer
Wine growers better promoting their environmental measures and better explaining how wine tastings work (as potential customers may not know) http://foodpolicy.rutgers.edu/research.asp?id=24 http://sustainable-farming.rutgers.edu/agritourism-in-new-jersey/ http://www.njskylands.com/fmbirding071
Recruitment of Up-&-Coming Chefs, Who Would Work in or Create New Restaurants Using Local Crops; Similarly, Connect to Established Chefs and Cooking Programs.
http://hubcityfm.org/why-connecting-farmers-to-chefs-matters-to-everyone/ http://agsci.psu.edu/wagn/topics/virtual-field-days/farm-to-chef-relationships https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/29/dining/lady-of-the-house-detroit- restaurant.html?hpw&rref=food&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well- region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well
Cultivate food critics to write about it.
What ingredients are current chefs finding difficulty obtaining? https://foodtank.com/news/2013/07/five-sustainable-culinary-programs-for-aspiring-green-chefs/
Ecosystem Services-based Businesses
http://www.ecosystemmarketplace.com/articles/new-initiative-lends-a-helping-hand-to-europes- green-entrepreneurs/ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/so-you-want-to-become-an-ecosystem- entrepreneur_us_596f907fe4b02700a905eb7f (Another good one on an unexpected subject.)
Food Incubator
https://hardwickagriculture.org/farmers-food-businesses/shared-use-commercial-kitchen
http://foodinnovation.rutgers.edu/incubatoroverview.html
Food Innovation Competition
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155850135645853&set=pcb.10157080359284606 &type=3&theater&ifg=1
Sustainable Farm Demonstration
http://www.cmpbs.org/sites/default/files/ad3.1-sust_farm.pdf https://shenandoah.ext.vt.edu/programs/sustainable-farm-demonstration.html
Farmer/Food Company Partnership with Urban Gardeners
http://www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Carrie-Urban-Kapraun/March- 2010/Triscuit-Takes-a-Different-Approach-to-Hunger-Reli.aspx
Farmer Education of the Community and Schools
http://www.sunsetvista.org/onsite-learning-center
http://www.americasgrowarow.org/about/ http://www.njaudubon.org/SectionConservation/StewardshipProgam/StewardshipBlog/tabid/200 6/entryid/44/NJ-Audubon-Helps-School-and-Farmer-Take-Action-to-Provide-Important-Habitat- for-Bird-and-Pollinator-Species.aspx (currently inactive)
Farmer Wellness Programs to Businesses
http://www.sunsetvista.org/onsite-learning-center
Farming and Customer Work on the Farm
http://www.asburyfarm.org/workshare.html
Farmer Programs to Combat Food Insecurity
http://www.sunsetvista.org/onsite-learning-center
Social Entrepreneurship and Food
https://foodtank.com/news/2017/07/social-enterprise-accelerator-takes-aim-hunger/ https://www.theguardian.com/social-enterprise-network/2014/may/22/social-enterprises- disrupting-food-system
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-46518-0_8 https://ssir.org/articles/entry/approaching_food_waste_from_all_sides
Training of Veterans
“https://www.ncat.org/armedtofarm/”
Training of New Sustainability-oriented Farmers
http://csgatgenesisfarm.com/apprenticeship-program/ https://nofanj.org/beginning-farmer-program/
Training for Agro-Forestry
http://apprenticeship.wellspringforestfarm.com/
Training on Good Agricultural Practices for Health
Through The Foodshed Alliance. http://foodshedalliance.org/
Training of Prisoners
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/27/california-inmate-farm-program_n_5400670.html Farming and the Disabled
http://www.agrability.org/resources/disability-and-ag/
https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/finance/agrability.php
Buyers Paying Extra to Ensure Farmworkers Get Paid More
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-publix-farmworkers-tomatoes-scott-maxwell- 20141206-column.html
Food Companies and Refugees
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/01/business/for-helping-immigrants-chobanis-founder-draws- threats.html