Partner Organizations:
MISA -- Bringing together the diverse interests of the agricultural community with interests from across the University community in a cooperative effort to develop and promote sustainable agriculture.
Land Stewardship Project-Non-profic Organization focusing on grassroots organizing and policy work around the care of the land.
Renewing the Countryside -- On this website you will find stories of everyday people making a difference in their rural communities. The stories here are of farmers, artists, business owners, community leaders, non-profit organizers, youth and others who are living, working and playing in ways that benefit their families, their communities, and future generations. Read these stories and find ideas, hope and inspiration.
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy - The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy promotes resilient family farms, rural communities and ecosystems around the world through research and education, science and technology, and advocacy.
Minnesota Project-The Minnesota Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustainable development and environmental protection in rural Minnesota.
Sustainable Farming Association-The SFA is a farmer-run, nonprofit organization based in Minnesota. The SFA was founded in 1988, in southeast Minnesota by farmers wishing to create an information-sharing network about sustainable farming practices. In the spirit of cooperation, we offer mutual support and fellowship to strengthen our families and communities.
Other Sustainable Ag Organizations:
The Land Institute-The Land Institute has worked for over 20 years on the problem of agriculture. Our purpose is to develop an agricultural system with the ecological stability of the prairie and a grain yield comparable to that from annual crops.
The National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture is a network of diverse groups whose mission is to shape national policies to foster a sustainable food and agricultural system -- one that is economically viable, environmentally sound, socially just, and humane.
Sustainable Agricultural Network/Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education-SAN is the communications and outreach arm of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. SARE is a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded initiative that sponsors competitive grants for sustainable agriculture research and education in a regional process nationwide. SAN is dedicated to the exchange of scientific and practical information on sustainable agriculture systems using a variety of printed and electronic communications tools.
The Leopold Center-The Leopold Center is located at Iowa State University and has three primary objectives: to identify and reduce negative impacts of agriculture on natural resources and rural communities, to develop profitable farming systems that conserve natural resources, and to work with ISU Extension and other groups to inform the public of new research findings.
Center for Rural Affairs-The Center for Rural Affairs, a private, non-profit organization, is working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities.
Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships-Our goals are to improve the effectiveness of relations between citizens, communities, and the University of Minnesota, and to promote active citizen leadership in shaping the future and long-term well-being of Greater Minnesota.
Southwest Research and Outreach Center-The Southwest Research and Outreach Center (SWROC) at Lamberton has grown to 828 acres and continues to support programs throughout Minnesota. In 1968, University of Minnesota Extension Service faculty started to locate at the SWROC and in 1987 the Southwest District Office was moved to this location. The Southwest Research and Outreach Center and the Extension Service link communities, families and agriculture to the Research, Education and Outreach of the University of Minnesota.
Organic Consumer Association-Campaigning for Food Safety, Organic Agriculture, Fair Trade & Sustainability.
Government Agencies:
United States Department of Agriculture-The government agency centered around agriculture, whose mission is to Enhance the quality of life for the American people by supporting production of agriculture.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture-The MDA's mission is to work toward a diverse ag industry that is profitable as well as environmentally sound; to protect the public health safety regarding food and ag products; and to ensure orderly commerce in agricultural and food products. We have two major branches of the department to accomplish this mission: regulatory divisions and non-regulatory divisions.
Farm Service Agency-FSA provides to 65 million rural Americans. The agency administers a myriad of programs - farm loans, farm programs, food aid, conservation incentives, and others.
University of Minnesota Extension Service-The educational outreach arm of the University of Minnesota, with offices in every county of the state.
Hunger Advocacy:
Hunger Solutions MN - Hunger Solutions Minnesota, formed in 2000 from a merger of the Minnesota Food Bank Network and the Minnesota Food Shelf Association, provides direct hunger relief to individuals who use food shelves and on-site meal programs through its regional food bank distribution network.
Minnesota Food Share - Minnesota FoodShare is a program of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches which seeks solutions to hunger through statewide, interfaith collaborative community action.
Rural Life Outreach (RLO) and Catholic/Lutheran Rural Life Commission (CLRLC)-RuralLife.org is made up of two areas, Rural Life Outreach (RLO) and Catholic/Lutheran Rural Life Commission (CLRLC). These two programs are separate, yet they work hand in hand. They are both located in Northwest Minnesota.
Second Harvest-America's Second Harvest is the nation's largest domestic hunger relief organization.
Lutheran Coalition for Public Policy in Minnesota-LCPPM seeks to engage all people of faith in the promotion of public policy that supports peace, justice and care for everyone.
Policy Links:
Organic Farming Research Foundation-The Organic Farming Research Foundation is a non-profit foundation founded to sponsor research related to organic farming practices, to disseminate research results to organic farmers and to growers interested in adopting organic production systems, to educate the public and decision-makers about organic farming issues.
National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture-The National Campaign For Sustainable Agriculture, Inc. is dedicated to educating the public on the importance of a sustainable food and agriculture system that is economically viable, environmentally sound, socially just, and humane.
Midwest Sustainable Working Group-paper on biotech issues.
Consumers International-Irradiation concerns.
Organic Consumer Association-News and views on genetic engineering concerns.
Organic consumer Association-News and views on irradiation concerns.
Buy Direct:
CSA Directory The 2005 edition of the Twin Cities Region Community Supported Agricultural Farms Directory is a joint project of the Landstewardship Project and the Minnesota Food Association. This publication is a directory of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farms.
Western Minnesota Natural Farm Produce-a website with links to many direct-market farms in the SW Minnesota area.
Whole Farm Coop-a direct market coop in West Central Minnesota which makes weekly deliveries to the Twin Cities area.
MN Grown Directory- An online guide to "direct from the farm" Minnesota Grown agricultural products.
Stewardship Food Network-The Stewardship Food Network is a list of over 100 LSP member farmers offering chemical free fruits, vegetables, and grains; antibiotic and hormone free meats; free-range chickens and eggs; milk and cheese from grass-fed cows; and more. The list also includes food co-ops, restaurants, and food processors that carry products grown by LSP members.
West Central Minnesota Farmer to Consumer Directory-This directory lists rural producers from West Central Minnesota who take great care and pride in maintaining the quality of their products. Farmers listed are implementing sustainable or organic farming practices.
Local Harvest-Local Harvest is a not-for-profit venture to sprout and grow a definitive and reliable "living" public directory of small farms nationwide, and in so doing to provide people with direct contact to farms in their local area.
Organic Consumers Association's Cooperative Index-A state-by-state index of food cooperatives.
Food Alliance – www.foodalliance.org
Minnesota Farmers Union --- www.mfu.org
National Sustainable Agriculture Information Services --- www.attra.ncat.org
Michael Fields Institute ---www.michaelfieldsaginst.org
National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture – www.sustainableagriculture.net
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