The Montana Food System Council is a volunteer council of citizens representing various sectors of Montana’s Food System and geographic regions of the state. Original members applied and were selected by the Governor’s Food and Agriculture Summit Steering committee in 2007.
Mission: The Montana Food System Council advances the growth of a sustainable and self-reliant statewide food system.
Vision: Montana’s food system supports sustainable agriculture, provides affordable nutritious food for all Montanans, and is a source of community economic development.
Our Role: The Montana Food System Council is a group of citizen volunteers and leaders in agricultural sustainability, food security, and food system education. The council has a unique relationship with state government agencies through the creation of the Governor’s Montana Food for Montanans Initiative. In collaboration with these state agencies, the council can provide leadership for significant and widespread food system change efforts for the state of Montana.
Council Goals: As recommended by attendees of the Governor’s Food and Agriculture 2007 Summit, the Montana Food Systems Council (MFSC), the Montana Food for Montanans Initiative Agencies (MFMI) (Montana Departments of Agriculture, Public Health and Human Services, Commerce, Labor and Industry and Corrections), and the MT Office of Public Instruction, will support the following primary food system goals:
- Encourage food system infrastructure development (food production, processing, marketing and distribution, and cooperative and business development);
- Promote public awareness, networking, research and curriculum development related to Montana food system issues;
- Achieve food security for all Montanans; and
- Promote farm viability and agricultural land uses.
With collaboration among the MFSC, partner organizations, and MFMI agencies, we believe that Montana can become a national leader in local food systems development, and a model for other rural states. Partner organizations include AERO (Alternative Energy Resources Organization), NCAT (National Center for Appropriate Technology), MT Food Bank Network and Food Security Council, Grow Montana, and others.
Council History:
In March 2007, at the Governor’s Food and Agriculture Summit, nearly 300 people sat down at tables together to talk about one thing we all have in common: food. The Summit consisted of farmers and ranchers, chefs and academics. There were leaders and activists from public food assistance, food business wholesalers and retailers, tribal constituencies and economic development. There were food-service managers, government officials and interested citizens. And every single person was there to discuss their vision for a strong, sustainable food system for Montana.
Despite differences in politics and place, despite differing personal goals with food issues—some were focused on local marketing while others sought to end hunger—it was easy for people to agree that something had to be done and that the vision was a goal of Montana food for all Montanans.
The Montana Food System Council (MFSC) formed as a result of that Summit. It is a new and important collaborative force for strengthening a sustainable, just and economically viable food system for Montana.