OUR HISTORY
The impetus for the North American Food Systems Network was a survey conducted in 2012 in which 1,300 respondents across North America, who identified as working in food systems, reported concerns about the viability of the projects they work on as well as their own livelihoods.
Citing the need for training in asset inventorying, economic impacts, and project evaluation, an overwhelming majority of respondents expressed interest in joining an organization that would cater to their professional development needs.
Founding Partner Organizations
To launch NAFSN, a Working Group of more than 100 individuals was initially formed in 2015, along with a smaller NAFSN Steering Committee. NAFSN also established memorandums of understanding with 13 national partner organizations.
* Center for Environmental Farming Systems at North Carolina State University
* Center for Regional Food Systems at Michigan State University
* eXtension Community, Local & Regional Food Systems Community of Practice
* Food Systems Planning and Health Communities Lab at the University of Buffalo
* Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University
* Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University
* Lyson Center for Civic Agriculture and Food Systems
* National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals
* Sustainable Agriculture Educators Association
* Food Systems Initiative at the University of Vermont