Being new to the blogosphere I was worried whether or not I had picked an appropriate name for this little effort, but fortunately my fears were soon allayed.
Brilliant me started doing google searches after I had picked the name and registered with WordPress, but the first result when I searched “Wisconsin Food Web” was quite heartening.
The Wisconsin Food System Partnership is a cooperative program among many branches of the UW system that, in the words of their website:
…brings people from the community and the university together in partnerships to build a more food-secure future for all.
The program provides small grants and other support to community-university partners for a wide range of teaching, research, service, and action projects.
Hmmm…maybe I should ask them for a grant for this little project. I would say that we are definitely walking on the same side of the street. Here is part of their vision statement from their website:
The Wisconsin Food System Partnership seeks a more food-secure world in 2020 — a world with less poverty and a plentiful food supply that is varied, enjoyable, safe, and healthy.
- Food will be produced and distributed in profitable, equitable, and environmentally sound ways that:
- invigorate and regenerate the earth and its people;
- equitably address local, regional, and global needs;
- are consistent with community resources and objectives; and
- take advantage of the most useful information and technology.
If I was smart and articulate it is just the sort of thing I would say that I was hoping to accomplish with my little electronic scribblings. So, you can take that as somewhat of a vision statement for this blog as well.
And finally, the site even says what I was trying to get across on the “About” page and the first post here:
The food system involves people, the environment, and agriculture. It includes the following linked set of activities and organizations:
- agriculture and agribusiness;
- natural resources and the environment;
- rural and urban community development;
- health and nutrition;
- biology and biotechnology;
- science education;
- international development; and
- public policy.
I do see a lot of very nice words there, and I hope that as time goes on I can highlight more in the way of actions — people doing things to achieve the goals laid out.
Stay tuned.
