Duration: 10/01/2026 to 09/30/2031

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Disruptions such as geopolitical conflict, extreme weather events, and the COVID-19 pandemic have exposed vulnerabilities in the food supply chain and increased the challenges of food availability, access, nutrition, and environmental sustainability. Local and regional food systems (LRFS) can help address these challenges and support greater resilience. Past LRFS efforts have improved and expanded production, marketing, farm profitability, food access, and regional economic development. However, additional research, Extension, and education activities are needed to clarify pathways for entry into LRFS, integrate emerging technologies, and identify and address critical infrastructure and workforce development needs.  

LRFS can continue to play a key role in ensuring safe, accessible, and nutritious food for consumers, particularly during disruptions that test system resilience, while also providing growth and stability for producers and supply chain businesses. The overall goal of this project is to build capacity in current and future LRFS in the southern region and beyond through four main objectives: (1) increasing understanding of production, processing, distribution, marketing, and demand issues; (2) strengthening the capacity for Land-Grants to build the LRFS workforce; (3) addressing entry barriers for participation; and (4) enhancing knowledge about the intersections of human capital and built/physical capital needs for LRFS development. 

Target audiences include new and beginning farmers, established producers, college students, and processing and distribution centers. Working groups will advance the objectives through needs assessments, Extension and curriculum development, and evaluation of sustainability production practices. Additional outputs will include peer-reviewed publications and multistate grant applications focused on strengthening LRFS. 

 

Statement of Issues and Justification

Resilient, sustainable, and adaptable local and regional food systems (LRFS) have been gaining attention from the public, policy leaders, researchers, and educators (agInnovation, 2025; Green et al., 2017; Rimhanen et al., 2023; Low et al., 2015). Several national and global food supply chain disruptions have increased the need to pursue and strengthen alternative food systems: geopolitical conflicts, extreme weather events due to climate variability, the COVID-19 pandemic, and rapid technological change along with identified challenges of food availability and accessibility, malnutrition, and environmental concerns (Arreyndip & Pal, 2025; Soria‐Lopez et al., 2023; Thilmany et al., 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic made it abundantly clear that having shorter, flexible (Thilmany et al., 2021), and multiple redundant pathways for food production, distribution, and access (Rimhanen et al., 2023) are of national interest. LRFS can serve as tools to build more resilient food systems that meet these needs and can be used to address challenges related to sustainability, nutrition, and income diversification (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2023). 

A major focus of LRFS-related work has been to identify and expand production and distribution and refine marketing strategies to conserve resources, increase access to more nutritious and fresher foods, and improve farm profitability. In addition, these efforts have supported broader economic development by expanding opportunities for entrepreneurs and strengthening food-related business networks (Nichols et al., 2022). Nonetheless, more work is needed to continue building LRFS that can adapt and be resilient in the ever-changing world and provide nutritious food, incorporate new technologies, and prepare the next generation to strengthen and sustain these growing systems. 

There are numerous frameworks, principles, and strategies that could fall under the umbrella of LRFS, and although any one of them alone may have limited impact, combined, they have achieved substantial outcomes. Such efforts include those focused on: low-input, sustainable, and regenerative practices on farms and ranches; controlled environment production of fruits, vegetables, and herbs; farm-raised and wild caught aquatic proteins; direct to consumer (on-farm sales, farmers markets, community supported agriculture) and institutional (farm to school) marketing; and value-added processing. The proliferation of efforts is notable, but this complexity can also be confusing for those working to enter or adapt existing efforts to participate in LRFS. Additionally, there is a need to continually identify and fill gaps in the development pathways in order for such systems to be created, maintained, and adapted. For instance, workforce and human capital, especially in the context of an aging agricultural workforce (Buys et al., 2023), and infrastructure (production, cleaning, processing, and storage) (Mittal et al., 2018) are often mentioned as important pressure points but have garnered less research and Extension attention in LRFS discussions.  

Several frameworks and models have been used to organize research, outreach, and educational efforts connected to LRFS, with increasing attention to multidimensional resilience (Cafer et al., 2024; Legnick, 2015). The Community Capitals Framework (CCF) (Flora et al., 2016) may be especially applicable because it examines the ways in which people and organizations build and use different forms of capital: natural (natural resources, including soils), built/physical (infrastructure, buildings, transportation), financial (savings, investments, credit), human (education, knowledge, skills), social (relationships, trust, networks), cultural (diversity, traditional practices), and political (power structures and connections) (Beaulieu, 2014; Emery & Flora, 2006; Flora et al., 2016). Differentiated from being mere resources, assets are classified as “capitals” because they can be invested in, grown over time, and exchanged. When evaluating the research and development needs for LRFS, it appears that while a great deal of attention has been given to natural and financial capital, much less work has been directed toward human capital (with the exception of education for specific production practices) and built capital needs, especially where they intersect. Three examples, among many, include: controlled environment agricultural production; meat and aquatic food processing; and complex coordination and distribution systems for food hubs, farm to institution, and other models. All of these require educational and advanced workforce development coupled with specialized physical infrastructures for LRFS development. 

This multistate project will build on past efforts of the SERA 47 Local and Regional Food Systems coordinating project. The SERA 47 project coordinated the information exchange of research needs and opportunities and promoted Extension efforts across institutional and state boundaries to further develop the work of producers, their engagement with consumers, and the many intermediaries related to LRFS. There was also collaboration on LRFS inventories and assessments. In keeping with current and previous collaborative efforts within SERA 47, this new project seeks to officially transition to a primarily collaborative group with joint activities between research and Extension, all types of Land-Grants, and private and nonprofit partners across state and territorial lines. 

The primary regional focus is on the South, but participants will be welcome nationally, with the potential for regional and sub-regional comparisons. It will be informed by and build on other multidisciplinary efforts, but it is unique in the emphasis on systems development. 

Through engagement with existing multistate project participants, the following working group themes were identified for developing the new multistate project. Team members within each group will work together to move forward the objectives through research, Extension, and education efforts. The working groups are listed below with a description of the associated issues of interest.  

Successful Models of Local and Regional Food Systems: There is a need to identify and document successful LRFS models encompassing all major aspects of the systems including organizational and technological innovations, community development and engagement, partnership/collaboration establishment, and LRFS production, processing, storage, distribution, and marketing. These should include efforts focused on grains, fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy, and aquatic proteins. 

Sustainable Agriculture in Local and Regional Food Systems: This area of focus emphasizes interest in exploring sustainable agriculture production practices within and between LRFS focusing on domains such as production methods, diverse and integrated systems, economic  sustainability, and place-based heritage foods using tools such as life cycle assessment and creating a collaborative network to identify challenges, share solutions, and build partnerships both within and outside of the community. This can help to build LRFS that strengthen economies, reduce negative environmental impacts, and even make positive environmental contributions. 

Marketing Local and Regional Food Systems: There are gaps in knowledge concerning efforts focused on strengthening the visibility of community engagement in LRFS through knowledge and resource sharing. This group aims to decrease the gap by creating educational materials and opportunities around innovative marketing approaches that include, but are not limited to, small farm marketing, farm to institution programs, expanding market reach, brand development, digital outreach, storytelling, value-added products, and agritourism. Through such efforts, producers and community members can gain experience and benefit through economic gains.  

Building Resilient Communities and Food Security: There is need for research, outreach, and educational efforts that focus on the roles of LRFS in building community resilience and advancing food security by ensuring consistent access to safe, nutritious food by strengthening and infusing adaptability into supply chains, identifying and planning for potential supply disruptions, building and supporting community assistance programs, engaging outside food retailers, reducing food waste, and incorporating community involvement in order to build tools for communities to adapt and thrive.  

Related, Current and Previous Work

Local and regional food systems (LRFS) are increasingly recognized as important tools for improving food security and strengthening the resilience of the U.S. food system in the face of ongoing supply chain challenges (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2023). Several studies, including literature reviews, surveys, focus groups, and system evaluations, have identified numerous needs or challenges within LRFS that align with the four focal areas of this project: barriers to entry, infrastructure, workforce development, and adoption of new technologies.  

For example, a study conducted in the southern U.S. that examined consumer perspectives found that that educational resources and adequate food distribution infrastructure are needed to support a successful LRFS ​(Varziri et al., 2025)​. Similarly, focus group research in Iowa was used to gather perspectives of consumers and producers on LRFS. It was revealed that limited access to information, as well as transportation and distribution infrastructure constraints pose barriers for both producers and consumers ​(Dorneich et al., 2024)​. Evaluation of food flows in LRFS in the Upper Midwest further demonstrated that insufficient crop diversity and limited transportation and distribution capacity hinder local suppliers’ ability to enter regional markets ​(Miller, 2021)​. In addition, a systematic review identified the availability of scalable infrastructure as a key strategy for building resilient LRFS ​(Keegan et al., 2024)​.  

Knowledge gaps and training needs among producers have also been identified as opportunities to strengthen LRFS. One barrier for small-scale farmers to enter LRFS is the understanding of food production laws and regulatory requirements ​(Johnson & Endres, 2012)​. In addition, technical training for producers that ensure successful products in both quantity and quality are also needed. Anggraeni et al. (2022) point out that technical training provided through government, industry, university, and food hubs can be used to improve quality and outcomes for producers within LRFS.​​ 

The Cooperative Extension system also plays a critical role in addressing these challenges. Research-informed Extension programs have been shown to be effective in supporting LRFS by educating farmers and consumers, facilitating the transfer of innovations, and strengthening regional relationships ​(Dunning et al., 2012). Building on these strengths, the proposed project will expand and enhance existing outreach efforts by centralizing key information needed by producers to reduce confusion and support successful entry into LRFS. Resources will be developed collaboratively with producers, Extension professionals, and interdisciplinary researchers and will fall into two primary categories: (1) centralized, established processes and information for new and beginning farmers, and (2) new, applied knowledge generated through research conducted as part of this project.  

Several ongoing projects also emphasize producer training and local food access and demand, such as From farm to community: Strengthening Atlanta's food security through producer support and local markets, which focuses on expanding distribution channels and providing business and marketing training for farmers while offering consumer education. Similarly, projects including "Farm to you mobile" produce prescription program: Increasing access to local produce and nutrition/cooking education via mobile outreach (West Virginia), Phase II: Increasing revenue opportunities for small and mid-sized farms through a unique, data-driven personalized marketplace that integrates locally-grown food sales with agritourism experiences (West Virginia), and Catalyzing local food value chain development through a cross-functional alliance and economic investment in Birmingham, Alabama are providing unique solutions to specific LRFS needs ranging from providing specific transportation infrastructure to marketing opportunities. Partners have also focused projects on evaluating consumer preferences and willingness to pay for value-added products (North Carolina A&T University). Differently, this new project will pull from and build on past alliances across states (particularly in the Southern region) as an effort designed to tackle challenges through a multi-layered and multidisciplinary approach. 

In addition to identifying LRFS producer and consumer education needs, work has also been done to develop formal food systems curricula. For example, Collier et al. (2023) proposed an interdisciplinary, multi-institutional model for college-level food systems education designed to address the complexity of modern food systems. Teaching modules were also developed for undergraduate courses on food systems including a module on local food systems based on instructor input from Land-Grant institutions ​(Belarmino et al., 2022)​. Current LRFS-related multi-modal education and workforce training programs include efforts in the Southern Region, such as those offered by the University of Arkansas (Local, Regional & Safe Foods), University of Kentucky (Food, Farming, and Community), North Carolina State University (Local Food and Small Farm Boot Camp), and North Carolina A&T State University (Agriculture Business Innovation Center partnering with Alabama A&M University, West Virginia State University, and Kentucky State University), just to name a few. The new project seeks to network and continue to support and expand these types of programs throughout the region, and to better understand their needs to help inform future research efforts.  

Technology development and adoption are other critical components of LRFS advancement. Emerging production systems such as controlled environments (e.g., high tunnels, greenhouses, indoor farms), aquaculture, and regenerative agriculture offer opportunities to improve diversity, quality, proximity, and supply. In particular, greenhouse and indoor farms can strengthen LRFS by enabling year-round production, supporting crop diversification, and locating food production closer to consumers (Gomez et al., 2019; Shamshiri et al., 2018). Implementation of these technologies in LRFS, especially in rural areas, has not been well explored. Additional multidisciplinary research is needed to address these gaps. In this project, studies will be conducted to evaluate the potential applications of emerging technologies and production methods within LRFS, with attention to challenges and opportunities, economic viability, environmental sustainability, and product quality and yield.  

Objectives

1. Increase understanding of production, processing, distribution, marketing, and demand issues confronted in local and regional food systems
   Comments: i) Study the benefits and challenges of small and medium-scale producers within LRFS; ii) investigate sustainable practices for these producers and their networks to increase production and nutritional quality; iii) increase the knowledge of farm, ranch, and aquatic protein providers and the organizations that serve them through briefs, webinars, and other mechanisms; investigate demand for local and regional foods in rural and low-income communities.
2. Strengthen the capacity for Land-Grants to build the local and regional food system workforce
   Comments: i) Research workforce training needs with insights from stakeholders and educators; ii) create research-based educational materials for workforce training programs; and iii) expand existing internship and leadership training programs.
3. Address entry barriers for participation in local and regional food systems
   Comments: Conduct research and develop Extension resources to decrease the entry barriers into LRFS for producers by better understanding and providing information on: i) how to access aggregation, processing, and distribution facilities; ii) case studies of successful LRFS highlighting adaptable, flexible, and replicable systems with plans to handle supply disruptions; and iii) physical infrastructure considerations.
4. Enhance knowledge about the intersections of human capital and built/physical capital needs for local and regional food system development
   Comments: Without limiting the broad scope of this systems-focused network, special areas of research inquiry followed by Extension and education resource development to address gaps in LRFS will be explored, helping to fill gaps concerning demographic characteristics and trends, infrastructure components, assessment of impacts on consumer behaviors, and education. This will include technology and innovative production method adoption such as controlled environment agriculture and aquaculture.

Methods

Each of the working groups will focus on activities for at least 2 objectives which will build collaboration between working groups. While the working groups will have leeway to shift activities based on the expertise and interest of the working group members, each working group will start with the suggested objective focus. The working group Successful Models of Local and Regional Food Systems will focus on Objective 3 (Address Entry Barriers) and Objective 4 (Human and Built/Physical Capital). The Sustainable Agriculture in Local and Regional Food Systems working group will work on Objective 1 (Increased Understanding of Successful Food Systems) and Objective 4 (Human and Built/Physical Capital). The Marketing Local and Regional Food Systems working group will contribute to Objectives 2 (Strengthening Land Grant Capacity) and Objective 3 (Address Entry Barriers). The final working group, Building Resilient Communities and Food Security, will focus on activities in Objective 1 (Increased Understanding of Successful Food Systems) and Objective 2 (Strengthening Land Grant Capacity). 

This proposed project will build upon the working groups developed in the last year as SERA 47. Multidisciplinary teams were formed after identifying interested participants through a survey distributed to SERA 47 members. The working group chairs will be charged with building the groups through inviting new members to fulfill the goals of the objectives. Outside of recruiting members individually, new team members will also be recruited through the Tea and Coffee Webinars that showcase topics and projects of the working groups. The project team will include researchers specializing in social, horticultural, agronomic, and animal sciences. In addition, team members will include those in Extension positions with various focus areas (e.g., LRFS, controlled environment agriculture, agricultural economics) and instructors. In addition, teams may include government, non-profit, and industry members. The working groups will support all the objectives.

Needs assessments will be conducted on topics of interest outlined in the objectives (infrastructure, workforce training, successes, and challenges of small scale LRFS producers) along with other identified interest areas. The assessments will be conducted through literature reviews, qualitative feedback from key stakeholders, and surveys to relevant audiences. An assets and needs assessment survey of researchers, Extension professionals, and producers will be conducted through a internet-based platform and participants will be recruited through state programs, professional associations, and stakeholder groups (producer organizations, etc.). Stakeholders will be identified by sharing the survey with producers, Extension agents, researchers, government officials, instructors, and non-profits that are involved with LRFS. The survey will be shared through an electronic platform that can easily be shared via listservs and on social media. Findings from the needs assessment will be utilized to inform all other project activities to make sure outputs are aligned with stakeholder needs (Objectives 1, 2, 3, and 4).

Case studies and summaries of best practices will be synthesized based on LRFS that are identified by team members. These case studies will also be presented by team members to stakeholders and serve as a resource for new or beginning stakeholders in LRFS. Case studies of successful LRFS will be summarized across at least three different regions within a state or three different region across multiple states, to be selected by project team members. The case studies will specifically highlight entry barriers that were overcome, human and built/physical capital, and LRFS that incorporate workforce training (Objective 3). Project team members will present the case studies to stakeholders at events and develop online resources targeting new or beginning stakeholders.

Given that needs for research-based information cut across working groups, and to avoid redundancy in data collection, teams will be organized with members from multiple working groups. Survey and case study teams, for example, will work to identify research questions, research instruments (survey questions, etc.), and potential funding sources. The goal is that any needs assessment, case study, or best practices effort will include two or more states for broader comparability and applicability. The working groups and data collection teams will develop clear data collection processes to present to the leadership team prior to collection (all objectives).

The multistate project will continue to hold virtual and in-person symposia for sharing research, emerging results, needs, and challenges. These conversations will continue to inform needs assessments on topics of interest and assist with identifying gaps in current research and programming. It is anticipated that in-person events will be organized in collaboration with existing organizations and their conferences. Examples include the Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists and its affiliated Southern Rural Sociological Association. In addition, team members will incorporate opportunities to present research and host meetings along with other events including professional societies and industry events (e.g., Controlled Environment Agriculture Summit East hosted in Danville, VA). Stakeholder feedback and team member discussions at these in-person and virtual meetings will inform and continue to tailor objectives (all objectives).

Stakeholder feedback through needs assessments will be used to build education and workforce training materials. Instructors from at least 3 institutions across the region will build content that can be utilized at various institutions for undergraduate students training in LRFS-related topics. In addition, Extension professionals will build resources to share across institutions that can be utilized in training programs targeting producers interested in entering LRFS (Objective. 2.ii). In addition, team members will establish networks between LRFS members and universities and community colleges to identify and increase opportunities for internships, shadowing, and entry level job opportunities in LRFS to support workforce development (Objective 2.iii).

Specific research activities for objectives outlined below, may include but are not limited to literature reviews, program reviews, surveys of the LRFS multistate network, surveys of producers, data collection through case studies, and data collection through stakeholder feedback through moderated discussions and/or listening sessions. 

Survey development/advertisement will be coordinated across working groups and states. In addition, data collection, reporting, and resource development as well as curriculum development will be coordinated across working groups and regions (all objectives). This will be accomplished through regular communication between team members in a few main ways. Individual working groups will meet individually and then working group leaders will report out at the monthly leadership team meetings. In addition, the project email listserv will be used to recruit and provide updates. Project updates including results and resource show and tell will take place through Tea and Coffee hours and an annual gathering.

One planned research activity is that plant and animal scientists in collaboration with social scientists will evaluate sustainable production practices that improve the long-term resilience of LRFS that takes into account environmental and economic impact of production methods under evaluation. This includes studies investigating new crops and system selection (e.g., hydroponics), input selection (e.g., fertilizers), among others depending on the specialty of team members (Objective 1.ii). Findings from these studies will be distributed to producers and organizations through webinars coordinated by the project team, conference presentations, research papers, Extension articles, and other methods to have the greatest impact (Objective 1.iii).

Measurement of Progress and Results

Outputs

• Project accomplishments will be disseminated regionally, nationally, and internationally through multiple channels aligned with the four project objectives. Comments: Data will be collected throughout the project using exploratory research methods, including observations and trend assessments on key priorities for local and regional food systems: Barriers to entry; Capacity building; Supply chain resilience (production, processing, distribution, and marketing); and Human and physical capital needs.
• An electronic needs assessment survey will be administered to stakeholders including research and Extension professionals within southern Land-Grant institutions (via the membership listserv) and producers, industry members, and government officials (via membership networks) Comments: These stakeholders are critical to developing, sustaining, and building capacity for local and regional food systems. These findings will be summarized in at least one peer-reviewed publication.
• Research findings and Extension programming results will be presented annually at the Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists (SAAS) Meetings through organized symposia, workshops, or mini-conferences coordinated by the SERA-47 leadership team. Comments: Findings and results may also be distributed via peer-reviewed publications, case studies, and presentations to other stakeholder groups.
• Professionals will also contribute to peer-reviewed publications in their respective areas.
• Information will be shared quarterly during the group’s Tea and Coffee Hour, fostering discussion on topic-specific activities and findings.
• A featured annual editorial in the Southern Rural Development Center’s Around the South newsletter will promote collaboration and engagement.
• Team members will contribute to a resource repository available to S Project members. Comments: This repository will be available as a resource for S Project members and could potentially be shared more broadly as a resources for multiple institutions, including for undergraduate courses, contributing to workforce development within the local and regional food systems.
• Team members will contribute to the development of two training resources focused on workforce development. Comments: One resource will be developed for Extension agents to build workforce development in their regions and one curriculum resource will be developed for undergraduate and/or graduate courses, contributing to workforce development in the academic system as well.

Outcomes or Projected Impacts

• Identification of barriers to entry for small and underserved farmers in local and regional food systems.
• Determination of factors that strengthen the workforce in these systems.
• Enhancement of our understanding of short supply chains, including production, processing, distribution, and marketing.
• Improvement in decision making to maximize profitability and provide consumers with improved access to specialty crops and value-added products.
• Development of Extension tools such as brochures and training manuals to support agents in delivering education to small and underserved farmers.
• Increased knowledge and resource sharing across the region, fostering collaboration and innovation.
• Strengthened pathways toward increased human capital and workforce development within LRFS.

Milestones

(2026):The project’s success depends on a collaborative network of Land-Grant institutions and non-governmental entities across the southern region, including academic, public, private, and nonprofit organizations. The initial team will include: -Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC): Director John Green and Extension Associate Grace Langford -SERA 47 Leadership: Chair Kaylee South (Virginia Tech), Vice Chair Courtney Brown (Oklahoma State University), Past Chair Kenrett Jefferson-Moore (North Carolina A&T State University), and Secretary Aaron Golson (North Carolina A&T State University) -Working Group Chairs: Eleanor Green (Mississippi State University), Chair of the Successful Models of Local and Regional Food Systems working group and Tim Woods (University of Kentucky), Chair of the Marketing Local and Regional Food Systems working group, and other working group chairs as identified. These groups will engage professionals from Land-Grant institutions and NGOs as current and prospective members. Consideration will be given to include graduate students to assist with data collection.

(2026):Another 2026 milestone will be for leadership members and working groups to identify which objectives and outputs resonate with them and build a detailed Plan of Work outlining strategies to achieve outputs and outcomes.

(2026):A key milestone will be mobilizing the four working groups including outlining goals for each working group and scheduling which Tea & Coffee hours they will host in 2026 and 2027.

(2027):Each working group, along with the leadership team, will finalize project plans along with a literature review. Data collection will also begin.

(2028):The outlined projects will continue to meet the objectives. Objectives will be met through data collection and analysis. In addition, reports and papers will be finalized. Some educational materials will be developed and distributed. This will continue into 2029.

(2030):The reports and papers will be finalized and submitted, and educational materials and programs will be developed. This will continue into 2031.

Projected Participation

View Participation Form/Appendix E: Participation

Outreach Plan

Outreach is integrated throughout the project plan, and resource development and delivery will vary based on objective and audience. Through engagement with researchers and efforts to adapt their findings to educational tools, resources will be developed including fact sheets, presentations, and webinars that provide content needed to address entry barriers with a target audience of new and beginning farmers as well as established small to medium-scale farms with interest in entering LRFS. These resources will include i) compiling and centralizing information on how to gain access to processing and distribution facilities, ii) case studies of successful LRFS, and iii) building and transportation infrastructure considerations. The established Tea and Coffee Hours (virtual quarterly meetings) started by SERA 47 will continue as avenue of distribution. Additional resources will be developed to share information on new technology applications in LRFS as well as findings of research to be conducted as part of obj 1. Example topics will include use of greenhouses and indoor vertical farms for food crop production in LRFS. In addition, research results will be published in peer-reviewed publications. Work from this project will also be presented at regional conferences such as at the Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists annual meeting. Research-based educational materials for workforce training programs will also be developed and disseminated via institutional partnerships. The SERA 47 website will be updated to reflect the change to an S project, and content developed in this project will also be posted there.     

Organization/Governance

This multi-state project will be organized and governed on a combination of the Standard Form of Governance recommendations and the structure and operations developed under the prior SERA 47 initiative. There will be three positions for the leadership committee: chair, chair-elect, and secretary. Officers will be nominated and elected as part of the annual meeting and will start in their positions as secretary for one year, chair-elect for one year, and chair for one year. (To start the new S multi-state project, the existing SERA 47 chair, chair-elect, and secretary will occupy these roles, and then new leaders will be elected and go through their three-year terms of service moving forward.  

Administrative guidance will be provided to the Leadership Committee by the assigned Administrative Advisor and NIFA Representative. Additionally, pending continued inclusion on the plan of work for the Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC), it will provide organizational support for the Leadership Committee.  

Literature Cited

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Anggraeni, E. W., Handayati, Y., & Novani, S. (2022). Improving local food systems through the coordination of agriculture supply chain actors. Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063281  

Arreyndip N.A. & Pal, J.S. (2025). On the coincidence of weather extremes and geopolitical conflicts: Risk analysis in regional food markets. PLoS One, 20(5), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0323379h   

Beaulieu, L.J. (2014). Promoting community vitality and sustainability: The Community Capitals Framework. Purdue Extension. https://pcrd.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Community-Capitals-Framework-Writeup-Oct-2014.pdf 

Belarmino, E. H., Kolodinsky, J., Ammerman, A. S., Connor Volpe, L., Brown, C., Jilcott Pitts, S. B., Hanson, K. L., Sitaker, M., Wang, W., McGuirt, J. T., Carfagno, M., Hunsinger, E., & Seguin-Fowler, R. A. (2022). Growing opportunities for equitable, interdisciplinary undergraduate food systems education: A review of food systems education at Land-Grant institutions and development of open-access materials. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.756584 

Buys, D., Robertson, M.N., & Green, J.J. (2023). The aging agricultural workforce: Opportunities for policy development and intervention. Public Policy and Aging Report, 33(3), 105-110.  https://doi.org/10.1093/ppar/prad015  

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Attachments

Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

FL, IA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, PR, SC, VA

Non Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

Mississippi