Background & Overview
Under a cooperative agreement between USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Courtney Long and Dr. Craig Chase brought together a diverse set of U.S. food systems practitioners to collectively identify core competencies deemed essential to their food systems work. AMS engaged in this effort to support coordinated information about learning opportunities for Extension educators and others who provide technical assistance that aligns with the AMS mission to develop and expand agricultural market opportunities in the local and regional food sector.
Key Takeaways
Several of the key findings of the project and report relate to AMS priorities to develop and expand market opportunities for farmers, with a particular focus on curricula aimed at the Land Grant University and Extension and Outreach system.
These key findings included:
- Extension educators have a need for information and competencies that address emerging markets and consumer trends;
- The competencies identified by the project will likely assist local food systems practitioners to be more effective in expanding or improving new and existing markets for farm and value-added agricultural products and improving local food businesses and farmer profitability;
- Of the identified Food Systems curricula aimed at Extension educators, a majority of curricula were found to have “knowledge change” as a primary learning objective, implying an existing gap in curricula meeting higher level learning objectives (such as “proficiency” or “mastery”); and,
- Creation of an online public access portal is needed to identify and highlight existing curricula based on the identified competencies, as well as links within the portal to assist food systems practitioners in understanding the logistics of accessing the curricula (costs, registration, etc.).
Full Report
- Food Systems Core Competencies Project Summary (pdf)
- Food Systems Practitioner and Education Resource Database
- Iowa State University Core Competency Final Project Report (pdf)
- The Curricula Tool and Directory (Excel)
For questions, please contact:
Ken Keck
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
Email: ken.keck@usda.gov
Publication Date
May 2020