The vast agenda of the Senate Agriculture Committee

During our D.C. immersive, we were fortunate enough to hear from staff of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry including Katie Naessens, Senior Professional Staff Member, Adam Tarr, Senior Professional Staff, Kyle Varner, Professional Staff, and Jacqlyn Schneider, Deputy Staff Director, who gave a nuts and bolts look at the inner workings of the Senate Ag Committee.

On the first day of a week-long immersion trip to Washington DC, our Food Policy & Sustainability cohort met via Zoom with Mae Wu, the Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) at USDA. This was a wonderful opportunity for us to learn more about her role and the current priorities of MRP.

After an early morning of professional headshots on the fourth day of the immersive, everyone felt a little sluggish as we sat down to hear Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young speak. That changed rapidly as Dr. Jacob-Young’s high energy and enthusiasm for science lit up the room and grabbed everyone’s attention as soon as she began talking about her career. It was immediately easy to see that she loves her work and loves to educate and inspire the next generation of leaders.

Our team has put together this list below of listservs / job posting networks for undergraduate and graduate students studying sustainable food systems who are interested in pursuing a career in this field.

On Friday, July 9th, the USDA announced that it would be allocating $500 million to increase competition and “level the playing field” for meat and poultry processing. These funds will come through the American Rescue Plan and are intended to increase capacity, giving farmers and ranchers more choices when it comes to meat and poultry processing.

Eating sustainably can sometimes feel like a daunting task with so many factors to consider. This can be especially true when eating at a restaurant where you often have no idea where the food on your plate came from. You don’t have to feel this way, though. In the Phoenix metropolitan area, there are more and more restaurants making sustainability a priority.

These clubs and organizations at ASU are a great place to meet others with interests in sustainable food systems and get hands-on experience with projects. Check them out on SunDevilSync

Looking to make a difference in your community and get more involved with the Phoenix local food system? Look no further. Here is a list of some great places to volunteer in and around ASU. This list is regularly updated, so if there is something you think is missing, don’t hesitate to email us at [email protected]!

As the 2020-21 school year comes to an end we want to appreciate and celebrate the contributions that our team of student workers has made to the Swette Center. The Swette Center has been made stronger thanks to each of their contributions, creativity, and good humor. We’ll miss them in our weekly team meetings, and wish them the best on what comes next in their academic careers! 

Santana Nez recently spoke to our Food Policy and Sustainability Leadership Cohort during the virtual immersive farm tour held in December, 2020. She provided students with a firsthand look into her experiences as a Native American beef cattle producer.

“Growing up, we were always told that if you take care of the land, the land will take care of you,” said Frank Krentz, an Arizona cattle rancher. This statement rang true throughout our conversation with Frank while our class learned more about his role in conservation efforts on his family’s ranch and other ranches in Arizona. 

As Patty Emmert, Kelsey Neppel, Stephanie Pharris, and Courtney Boyer share an information rich virtual presentation on Duncan Family Farms to the Food Policy and Sustainability Leadership cohort, both the impressive breadth of the organization’s production and intentional commitment to sustainable agriculture become rapidly apparent. The fact that the presentation is conducted by four women in agriculture lends another unique layer to the presentation and operation.