The SAN diego food system ALLIANCE (ALLIANCE),is a diverse and inclusive multi-sector network that works across the region to promote collaboration, influence policy, and catalyze transformation in…

The San Diego Food System Alliance (Alliance) was awarded a $949,330 Project Grant from the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Regional Food System Partnerships program to launch a Local Food Economy Lab. The Lab will engage public and private partners within the Alliance's Food Vision 2030 network, including local farms, fisheries, food hubs, businesses, institutions, mid-tier value chain businesses, technical assistance providers, government, philanthropic, and economic development partners. It will coordinate customized business and technical assistance, mobilize funding, influence policy, and scale up local, equitable, and sustainable value chains in the San Diego region. Specifically, the Lab will involve two phases - first, co-designing the Lab and reimagining value chains, then implementing Lab services. This award supports the Alliance's efforts to advance several objectives within its Food Vision 2030 plan to transform the regional food system and accomplish goals of cultivating racial justice, fighting climate change, and building resilience by 2030.

The SAN diego food system ALLIANCE (ALLIANCE),is a diverse and inclusive multi-sector network that works across the region to promote collaboration, influence policy, and catalyze transformation in the food system. After a 2 year planning process engaging with over 250 cross-sector organizations and nearly 3,000 individuals-primarily low-income residents, tribal communities, food producers, businesses, and workers-the ALLIANCE is launching SAN diego county food vision 2030 in july 2021. Food vision 2030,visualized through a report and a website including an indicator dashboard (SDFOODVISION2030.ORG),outlines 10 objectives positioned to transform our regional food system to accomplish 3 goals: 1) cultivate racial justice,2) fight climate change, and 3) build resilience.to advance several food vision 2030 objectives, the project goal is to launch a "local food economy lab" that centers equity and community ownership and works to improve the viability of local farms, fisheries, and food businesses. The lab will engage with a diverse set of public and private partners within the food vision 2030 network, including local farms, fisheries, food hubs, food businesses, institutions, mid-tier value chain businesses, technical assistance providers, government, philanthropic, financing, and economic development partners to coordinate customized business and technical assistance, mobilize funding, influence policy, and scale up local, equitable, and sustainable value chains. The lab will also facilitate the economic case-making for investing in the regional food system. Through deep collaboration with partners, the project will involve two phases: 1) CO-design the lab and reimagine value chains,2) implement the lab services.