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Michigan supports food systems investment

The Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development says supporting the linkages throughout the food supply chain strengthens entire economies.

Tim Boring tells Brownfield more emphasis needs to be placed on food production and the communities it supports.

“It’s certainly important for those rural economies that are built on these processors, the support systems for these diversified farms, ” he says. “But, it’s also even broader than that of where the food goes, the importance of how these systems fuel our entire rural ecosystems, the importance in a real way of making sure that people have healthy food.”

He says state programming is being positioned in the short term to address federal gaps and uncertainty.

“We’re continuing to build out opportunities around the middle of the supply chain, transportation, logistics aggregation,” he explains. “At the same time, continue a lot of work with our grant development and economic development, with food processors. these linkages companies, to make sure that we’ve got the demand and pull through of the products.”

The Michigan Legislature is currently considering a new Protect Michigan’s Food Supply Program, Rural Development grants, new farmer grants, and other efforts to strengthen the food supply chain.

Brownfield interviewed Boring during the Michigan Food Protection Task Force Annual Meeting in East Lansing.