HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-20-20 Public Comment - Open & Local - Bozeman Climate Plan
Working Together to Strengthen
Community Food Systems and Conserve Open Land
Bozeman City Commission
agenda@bozeman.net
December 20, 2020
Dear Mayor Andrus, Deputy Mayor Cunningham, and Commissioners Pomeroy,
Wallner, and Madgic:
The Bozeman Climate Plan is a strong blueprint, a valuable vision to proactively ensure
that we and future generations enjoy a resilient community.
Solution N: Cultivate a Robust Local Food System is of particular importance to Open
& Local, a network of more than 580 community members interested in
strengthening our local food economy and conserving critical agricultural resources.
A sustainable food future is one in which our food system practices do not
exacerbate climate change and one which ensures food security in the face of climate
shocks and disturbances. We strongly support Solution N and its four actions:
à support formation of a local food council,
à help develop a food system assessment and security plan,
à encourage local agriculture and preservation of working lands, and
à support local food production, processing, and distribution.
As the pandemic has made plain, food security and food access are fundamental to
resilience. A strong community food system is a critical component to a resilient food
supply chain, expanding access to local and regional foods and increasing food
security. Strong local/regional food systems also strengthen local economies by
expanding opportunities for entrepreneurs, increasing the share of dollars spent that
remain in-community, and enhancing relationships and connections across the
community.
Bozeman sits within a rich agricultural valley and possesses a deep wealth of soil, social
capital, research capacity, and business savvy. The City has an important role in
supporting the food system at multiple levels – from policies that support small-scale
specialty crop farmers and value-added food businesses to modeling procurement
practices that prioritize purchase of products grown using sustainable, regenerative
practices.
We look forward to working with the City to implement the actions identified in
Solution N, adding substance and specificity to this powerful vision.
On behalf of our steering committee and larger network,
Kate Burnaby Wright
chair, Open & Local Coalition
406-581-0550
STEERING COMMITTEE
Christina Angell
Co-Founder & Operations
Manager, Root Cellar Foods
Sam Blomquist
Registered Dietitian
Nate Brown
Amaltheia Organic Dairy
Peter Brown
Stewardship Director,
Gallatin Valley Land Trust
Roth Jordon
Corporate Chef and Partner,
Montana Ale Works
Rebecca Kurnick
Assistant Manager &
Sustainability Director,
Montana Ale Works
Lyra Leigh-Nedbor
Child Nutrition
Program Manager, HRDC
Lori Petermann
Prepared Foods Manager,
Community Food Co-op
Jacy Rothschiller
Gallatin Valley Botanical &
Rocky Creek Farm
Mary Stein
Program Leader &
Adjunct Professor
Sustainable Food Systems,
Montana State University
Kate Burnaby Wright
Non-profit Consultant