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NASDA releases toolkit to help state ag departments improve food security

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture has a new resource to help combat food insecurity.  

President Ryan Quarles says the NASDA Food Security Toolkit highlights what state ag departments are already doing to reduce hunger and offers examples for creating new projects.

“Whether it be senior farmers markets, nutritional programs that flow through your department, producing gleaning programs and tax incentives for farmers, there is something in this tool kit that I guarantee your state hasn’t tried yet and you as a leader in agriculture are best positioned to implement and help move the needle and have less Americans being reliant on food pantries and food banks,” he says.

Speaking during the opening session of the NASDA Winter Policy Conference, he says state ag directors, secretaries, and commissioners are uniquely positioned to address food insecurity.

NASDA CEO Barb Glenn says toolkit offers a unique set of best practices to fight hunger.

“The toolkit is not only evidence that NASDA members have led in these unique partnerships in every state and every territory with remarkable results, but it’s also the roadmap for the future for new food and agricultural systems,” she says.

Quarles says the toolkit is the result of a food insecurity survey state ag departments participated in this past fall. NASDA compiled the results and found that the clearest path forward in achieving food security across the U.S. is through a strong and robust private-public partnership.