$3.1 Million Boost Grows Resilient California Food Systems – AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST

Report on the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Investment in California and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1.0 Program Overview

• Investment: A total of $3.1 million has been allocated to enhance California’s local food systems.
• Partnership: The initiative is a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
• Program: Funding is distributed through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program.
• Beneficiaries: The investment supports 37 distinct projects focused on small and mid-size agricultural producers.

2.0 Strategic Objectives and Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The program’s core objectives align directly with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The primary aim is to foster resilient local food systems, thereby enhancing market opportunities for smaller producers and increasing community access to nutritious, locally grown food, in line with the CDFA’s ‘Ag Vision for the Next Decade’.

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger: By supporting small and mid-size growers, the program strengthens local food supply chains, which is critical for food security. It improves access to healthy foods for more communities, directly addressing targets related to ending hunger and ensuring access to safe, nutritious food.
2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: Several funded projects specifically target the reduction of food waste through methods such as dehydration and juicing. This contributes to more sustainable patterns of consumption and production by creating value-added goods from surplus harvests, directly supporting SDG Target 12.3 to halve food waste.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The investment stimulates local economies by enhancing market viability for small and mid-size agricultural enterprises. This fosters inclusive and sustainable economic growth within local communities.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The initiative strengthens the links between rural producers and urban consumers, building more resilient and sustainable community food systems.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The collaboration between the federal USDA and the state-level CDFA exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership essential for achieving sustainable development objectives.

3.0 Scope of Funded Projects

The 37 projects encompass a range of activities within the middle of the food supply chain, including:

• Installation of new packaging equipment.
• Infrastructure for food-waste reduction initiatives.
• Development of value-added products from local harvests, such as:
  • Tempeh patties
  • Ice-cream cups
  • Fermented vegetable drinks
  • Collard chips

4.0 Additional Information

A comprehensive list of the 37 awarded projects is available for public review at the following URL: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/rfsi/docs/rfsi_2025_Awards.pdf

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   This goal is central to the article, which discusses efforts to strengthen food systems. The initiative aims to support growers and improve food access, directly aligning with SDG 2’s objectives of ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   The article highlights that the investment helps “small and mid-size growers thrive” and supports “local economies.” This connects to SDG 8 by promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth through support for small enterprises in the agricultural sector.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   By focusing on fostering “local resilient food systems,” the program strengthens the links between food producers and local communities. This contributes to making communities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by ensuring a stable and accessible local food supply.

4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   The article explicitly mentions that some of the funded projects focus on “food-waste reduction through dehydration and juicing.” This directly addresses SDG 12’s aim to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns by reducing food losses along production and supply chains.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. The article supports this target by stating a goal is to “give more communities access to healthy CA GROWN foods.”
   • Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers. The program’s focus on helping “small and mid-size growers thrive” and enhancing their “market opportunities” directly aligns with this target.
   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices. The initiative is named the “Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program,” and a stated goal is to “foster local resilient food systems,” which directly corresponds to this target.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises. The investment in “37 projects that help small and mid-size growers thrive” is a direct implementation of this target.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning. The program strengthens the regional food system by funding infrastructure that connects local growers with their communities.

4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses. The article mentions projects specifically aimed at “food-waste reduction through dehydration and juicing,” which is a direct action towards achieving this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

   • The article provides a direct input indicator for supporting small-scale producers (Target 2.3): the $3.1 million investment dedicated to enhancing their market opportunities.
   • The number of projects (37) supported serves as a quantitative measure of the scale of intervention aimed at helping small and mid-size growers.
   • An implied outcome indicator for Target 2.1 would be the number of communities with increased access to healthy, locally grown foods as a result of these projects.

2. Indicators for SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

   • The number of small and mid-size enterprises supported (37 projects) is a direct indicator for Target 8.3, measuring the effort to foster their growth.
   • The total financial commitment ($3.1 million) serves as an indicator of the public investment flowing to these enterprises to help local economies.

3. Indicators for SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)

   • While not quantified, the mention of projects for “food-waste reduction” implies that a key indicator for measuring progress towards Target 12.3 would be the volume of food waste reduced or repurposed by the funded initiatives through methods like dehydration and juicing.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: aginfo.net