HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-11-20 Public Comment -R. Bret, D. Antelope, H. Crowe, K. Hertel - Bozeman Climate Action PlanFrom:Rylin Brett
To:Agenda
Subject:Public Comment: Bozeman Climate Action Plan
Date:Sunday, October 11, 2020 6:36:40 PM
To whom it may concern,
Good evening!
I am writing to you on behalf of a group of MSU students who are soon to graduate in the
Sustainable Foods and Bioenergy Systems degree program. We have read much of the
action plan, with primate focus on the sections that discuss agriculture and foodways. We
commend all the hard work that has been put into this plan. However, we found some parts
of the sustainable food systems plan are lacking in actionable recommendations.
Specifically, in Focus Area 6, we feel that the section about equitable access to local,
healthy food leaves out some important actionable measures. Because of our changing
climate, the need to find sustainable food solutions is more important than ever. We have
some ideas for actionable steps that we believe will ensure a more equitable food system in
the future:
Advocate on behalf of the City of Bozeman to both state and federal agencies about
the importance of considering agricultural subsidies for producers contributing to their
community food security. This supports the local producers to sell locally, makes food
affordable for low and middle-income individuals, as well as keeps the economy
local.
Develop community needs assessment focusing on middle-income individuals and
families in order to find areas of need. Middle-income earners currently have poor
access to local food as they are challenged by the higher prices, nor do they avail of
the emergency food safety access points that provide local food to those living closer
to poverty.
General education for support success for individual food production efforts, such as
engaging with community gardens and home gardening, edible landscaping, and
season extension practices. This can look like a multitude of things such as working
with MSU Extension Office to provide more free and affordable information/classes
for the community, or more incentives from the city to plant fruit trees and gardens.
We believe that these will help include low and mid-income households in the fight for
sustainability. As these individuals should be able to contribute to sustainability, but
currently, the market does not allow their contribution. Since agriculture is such a large
contributor to climate change it is imperative that we focus on creating a sustainable food
system. In order to create a food system that is sustainable, it must be local and accessible
for all community members.
Thank you so much for all the hard work that is being done to ensure Bozeman is going to
part of the climate solution. We hope that you consider our comments and we look forward
to reading the final plan as well as helping Bozeman achieve goals set in as many ways as
possible!
Kindly,
Rylin Brett
Danielle Antelope
Haylee Crowe
Kelsea Hertel