text:
Counties and Local Food Systems
bryan nettles August 18, 2012
The full pdf can be found here
Ensuring Healthy Foods, Nurturing Healthy Children
A Publication of the NACo Center for Sustainable Communities
Written by Casey Dillon Edited by Martin Harris
About NACo – The Voice of America's Counties
The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation's 3,066 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public's understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money. For more information about NACo, visit www.naco.org.
About the NACo Center for Sustainable Communities
The NACo Center for Sustainable Communities'primary mission is to provide a forum for county leaders to work with other governments, the private sector and communities to develop policies and programs that will lead to better diet and weight loss, economic enhancement, environmental stewardship and social well being — the three pillars of sustainable communities. The Center helps local elected officials build sustainable communities by promoting community leadership initiatives, facilitating multi-ju- risdictional and public-private partnerships, providing technical assistance and training, and conducting community policy and educational forums.
The Center provides local elected officials with assistance in using policies and tools necessary for creating sustainable communities. In particular, local elected officials are interested in finding more cost-effective and comprehensive ways to address such issues as transportation management, brownfields revitalization, environmental protection, housing, energy conservation, job training, health and public safety.
Although the Center's primary function is to serve counties, it has been a facilitator of partnerships across jurisdictional lines. Through a six-year partnership with the United States Conference of Mayors focusing on sustainability and regional- ism, the Center worked closely with America's cities in addressing economic, environmental and equity issues, producing an extensive library of technical assistance materials to address the challenges facing local governments.
While the Center is not a repository of all relevant information on sustainable development, with its access to public and private sector leaders nationwide, it is a catalyst to help local government officials find solutions to problems facing their communities.
This publication was authored by Center Program Assistant Casey Dillon and edited by Former Center Director Martin L. Harris, with contributions from the American Farmland Trust, the Community Food Security Coalition, the National Farm to School Network, and the International City County Management Association.
The Center would like to say thank you to all of the people who were interviewed in researching for this publication: Kyle Richmond, Ruth Simpson, Lee Cunningham, Gerry Campbell, Ariel Bleth, Bill Carey, Linda Samel, Trudy Mizner, Janie Burns, Robert Marqusee, Mark Buschkamp, Mark Schuett, Matt Knepper, Dean Severson and Peter Olmstead.
For more information on the publication, the Center and its programs, please contact:
Casey Dillon
Program Assistant
Center for Sustainable Communities National Association of Counties
25 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington DC 20001
((202) 942-4243 * cdillon@naco.org
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Infrastructure for Local Producers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Food Councils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Agricultural Conservation Easements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Farm to School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
National Association of Counties
This publication contains four methods and case studies for how county governments can support their local food systems. It was written with a focus on obesity prevention, but read- ers interested in the links between agriculture and economic development, environmental protection, and food security will also find the content useful.
Youth Obesity
and Access to Fresh Food
The NACo Center for Sustainable Commu- nities (the Center) wrote this publication with the goal of assisting county governments to leverage their local food systems, combat youth obesity and build healthy communi- ties. Numerous studies and the Center's own research have shown that access to healthy food is both a major challenge and a major opportunity for reducing obesity. Food access obstacles such as neighborhoods with few stores that sell fresh food and the high cost of fresh foods relative to unhealthy alterna- tives make it difficult for many children and families to obtain the fruits, vegetables and other wholesome foods they need in order to maintain a balanced diet. By working with local food systems to create communities in which there is ready and affordable access to healthy food, local governments play a key role in combating the obesity epidemic and creating a vibrant future for our children.
Local Food Systems
Local Food Systems are composed of all the interdependent steps and actors that go into producing the food that is grown and raised in a region. This includes: planting, raising, harvesting, storing, transporting, processing, packaging, marketing, and retailing of food, as well as actors such as farmers, suppliers, buyers and government.
Local food systems are an invaluable re- source for creating healthy communities be- cause their actors have the ability to increase the amount of affordable fresh food available in community stores, farmers markets, low income food basket programs, road side
stands and restaurants. Not only can actors of local food systems increase healthy food access, they can also provide food education to citizens, teaching them about how food is grown, processed, marketed, what its history is, how to cook it, etc. Such education often encourages people to begin thinking more critically about what they eat on a day to day basis, and is an important step towards creat- ing community environments that promote healthy living.
Four Methods
to Support Local Food Systems
The following pages contain detailed descriptions of four methods counties have used to build their local food systems into rich community resources. The four methods are: food policy councils, farm to school programs, infrastructure for local producers and agricul- ture conservation easement programs. They were chosen for the success counties have had in implementing them and for their sig- nificant impact. Each method is paired with a comprehensive case study which illuminates how the method plays out on the ground, and includes peer-to-peer advice.
1.Food Policy Councils
(Case Study: Dane County, WI)
• Bring stakeholders together
• Make recommendations
• Coordinate and deliver existing programs • Create new programs
• Address policy barriers
• Community outreach
2.Farm to School
(Case Study: Missoula County, MT)
• Bring fresh food to school meals
• Educate children about food
• Instill lifelong healthy preferences
• Support the local farm economy
• Use less gas to transport food to schools
Local Food Systems are composed of all the interdependent steps and actors that go into producing the food that is grown and raised in a region.
Counties and Local Food Systems • 3
3.Infrastructure Development
(Case Study: Woodbury County, IA)
• Enable farmers to offer new products to local purchasers
• Aid farm entrepreneurs
• Provide incentives for a new generation of small and
mid scale farmers
• Retain existing agriculture infrastructure • Respond to market changes
4.Agriculture Conservation Easements
(Case Study: Lancaster County, PA)
• Set aside land for farming now and in the future • Ensure long term ability to grow local fresh foods • Preserve community character
• Provide income for farmers
• Conserve green space
Leadership for Healthy Communities
Helping counties build healthy communities is part of the mission of the NACo Center for Sustainable Communi- ties, and combating youth obesity is one issue to which the Center is particularly dedicated. For the past four years the Center has been an active partner in Leadership for Healthy Communities, a coalition of local government agencies funded through the Robert Wood Johnson Foun- dation that is committed to promoting active living and combating obesity. For information about the Center's ongoing work, past projects or publications please visit www.naco.org/sustainable or contact:
Program Assistant, Center for Sustainable Communities National Association of Counties
25 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 500
cdillon@naco.org
4 • July 2007
Food Councils
Promoting farmers markets is one action food councils can take to increase the availability of fresh foods in communities.
A food council is a group of stakeholders that provides support to governments and citizens in developing policy and programs related to the local food supply. The members of a food council have a solid understanding of the local food system and represent a di- versity of community interests. The structure of a food council will vary depending upon the character of the community it serves. For instance, many food councils are designed to advise governments on policy and are referred to as food policy councils, while oth- ers focus their energies on work within the community. Likewise, some food councils are official branches of government while others are recognized as advisory groups.
Food and agriculture issues significantly affect public health, land use, hunger, com- munity culture, economy, environment and quality of life. Although most counties have agencies responsible for these individual is- sues, many do not have a single government body illuminating ways that food production
and consumption impact these different areas, nor do they have a body making rec- ommendations for promoting the sustain- able development of the local food system. To address this gap, local governments have begun establishing food councils. Today, food councils exist in Dane County, WI; Palm Beach County, FL; Lane County, OR; Boulder County, CO; Jefferson County, AL; Pima County, AZ; and four California counties: Yolo, Oakland, Marin and Fresno. Food councils have also been established by several cities and states.
Food councils serve as a comprehensive bridge of communication between communi- ty stakeholders, ensuring that they are aware of a common vision for the community's food supply and of each others' actions that affect it. Food councils can make recommendations, coordinate programs, create new programs, and address policy barriers. Food councils also serve as a citizen resource and a source of inspiration for grassroots efforts to sup- port farmers markets, community gardens, local food sourcing, etc. A useful resource for counties interested in starting their own food council is the Community Food Security Coali- tion (https://foodsecurity.org/FPC/index.html).
Locally grown food is central to the County's history, culture, landscape, economy and health.
How County Governments Can Support Food Councils
County governments can support food councils in a number of ways. First and foremost, they can sponsor their creation, either at the county or regional level. Once a food council is established a county can provide technical sup- port, in-kind support such as office space, funding or staff assistance. Political legitimization from elected officials is also invaluable to the success of food councils, and can be given in the form of participating on food councils, ad- dressing policy barriers and by publicizing and supporting their work.
Best Practice Example: Food Councils
Dane County, WI
The Dane County Food Coun-
cil was created in October 2005
by a County Board resolution
and at the recommendation of
a citizen advisory group that had been appointed by the county a year earlier to study the local food system: the Lo- cal Food Policy Advisory Subcommittee. Dane County, the City of Madison and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Wisconsin Food System Partnership) initially contributed a total of $15,000 to support the Food Council in its first year. Since then, the Dane County Food Council has been an ac- tive and positive force in building the local food system.
There are twelve citizen members on the Dane County Food Council. They serve two-year terms and represent a range of interests and backgrounds including: small and large scale farmers, urban planners, nutrition and hunger prevention advocates, non-profit representatives, uni- versity professors and farmers market managers. These positions are appointed by the County Executive and two County Board Committees. This was a natural fit in Dane County due to its long legacy of citizen and community support for sustainable agriculture.
Dane County has a dynamic and growing local food sys- tem including highly productive farms, numerous farmers markets and restaurants, and unique community events such as the Food for Thought Festival, Breakfast on the Farm and Corn Fest. Locally grown food is central to the County's history, culture, landscape, economy and health. The Food Council grew out of this rich heritage. In 1997, a conference on urban food systems was held in Madison that built public interest around food security, access to fresh produce, and local farm economy and preservation issues. This conference was the result of a partnership of University and citizen groups funded by a W.K. Kellogg foundation grant called the Wisconsin Food Systems Partnership. It was because of strong citizen interest in
The mayor of Madison, WI speaks with local farmers about issues affecting agricultural production.
issues such as these that Kyle Richmond, Chair of Dane County's Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, appointed the Local Food Policy Advisory Sub- committee in 2004. He directed the Subcommittee to study and make recommendations about the local food system. After a year of research and deliberation the Subcommit- tee made a number of recommendations in a document entitled "Recipes for Success," one of which was to create a food policy council. The Dane County Executive was sup- portive of this recommendation.
When it was approved in 2005, the Dane County Food Council was charged with implementing many of the other recommendations the Local Food Policy Advisory Subcom- mittee had made. In order to address these multiple recom- mendations and support local citizen efforts, Food Council members divided themselves into four subcommittees: the Farmers' Market Network Subcommittee, Institutional Food Purchasing Subcommittee, Market Basket Subcommittee and Education and Outreach Subcommittee. The Food Council meets monthly, and members on the four subcom- mittees meet with volunteers and partners more regularly. The monthly meetings are open to the public, and often feature speakers who broaden the Food Council's under- standing of Dane County's food system and the factors affecting it.
Dane County's Role
Dane County supports its Food Council in a number of ways. Since the County recognized the Food Council as an official body in late 2005, the County has provided funding, in-kind assistance, and political support. The Environmental, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee has oversight over the Food Council's budget. The budget pays primarily for a part time staff person who is housed in the Planning and Development Department. These types of support al-
low the Dane County Food Council to function professionally and effectively. The Food Council has also benefited from the political support of county officials such as Executive Kathleen Falk, who recently presented recognition awards at the Food Council's annual conference in March 2007.
Dane County also provides guidance to its Food Council. The Board and Executive ap- point new members to the Food Council when existing members exhaust their term limits. Food Council members check in on a regular basis with the county officials who appointed them and with the Environment, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, which hears and represents any policy proposals or comments that the Food Council wants to put before the Board.
Benefits to the Community
Since its creation, the Food Council has achieved a great deal. The Farmer's Market Network Subcommittee helped to create the Farmers Market Alliance for South Central Wisconsin, a network of farmers' markets in Dane County and the surrounding region, which supports and promotes the vitality of
markets by sharing resources and informa- tion. The Farmers Market Alliance is working to make WIC and food stamp debit machines available at all markets by offering workshops about this opportunity and raising funds for mini-grants. In addition, the Farmers' Market Alliance is raising funds for joint marketing and promotion projects.
The Institutional Food Purchasing Subcom- mittee worked with citizen groups and local farmers to pass a County Board resolution that encourages local sourcing of foods purchased for the County jail, juvenile retention center, and senior centers. The resolution supports the local farm economy and increases the like- lihood that the people served in these county buildings will receive fresh food. The Subcom- mittee is also partnering with other groups addressing local food purchasing through Universities, schools, hospitals, hotels, and convention centers.
The Market Basket Subcommittee expanded a program that provides baskets of fresh fruits and vegetables to low income households. The program offers a choice of four baskets: regular box which serves a family of four, half box for seniors or individuals, organic box, and a box tailored to the Latino community. The
By sourcing directly from farmers and eliminating the middle man, the Market Basket program is contributing to greater food security and a more balanced diet, while at the same time creating
a reliable market for small-scale farmers.
Dane County residents shop at the Southside Farmers Market.
Health Care Delivery and Financing • 7
cost ranges from $8-$26 per week, with a savings of $6-$15 over the retail price. By sourcing directly from farmers and eliminating the middle man, the Market Basket program is contributing to greater food security and a more balanced diet, while at the same time creating a reliable market for small-scale farmers.
The Outreach and Education Subcommittee planned the Council's first annual "Planting Seeds for Our Future" Conference in March 2007 which attracted more than 150 people. The Food Council solicited nominations from the community and hosted a recognition ceremony for 22 lo- cal leaders who are helping to create a vibrant community food system. The conference also included workshop ses- sions on topics such as childhood obesity prevention, lake fish as a food source, new immigrant farming, food waste in land fills and alternative composting operations, grow- ing new fruit crops for market (i.e. Aronia), state legislation and the Farm Bill, and community gardens. At this event the Food Council also gained valuable insight and input from community members who will help shape its vision and sow the seeds for future action.
Peer-to-Peer Advice
Asked what they would say to officials interested in starting food councils in their own counties, leaders of the Dane County Food Council gave the following advice:
• Look at the intersection between food and important issues in your community such as hunger, obesity, the farm economy and land use. If it seems like the community would benefit from the leadership of a food council, call a meeting of affected stakeholders and have a discussion with them around the question: if we had a food council, what would it look like?
— Kyle Richmond, Chair, Dane County Agriculture, Envi- ronment and Natural Resources Committee
• The Food Council should serve as a way for people and organizations concerned about food access, food production and food processing to interact and create a tapestry that can be stronger than the sum of its parts. Creating a local food system that is economically and environmentally sustainable should be a mission for every county across the country. But, keep in mind that going through the county government process of approving a food council takes time. It is important to speak to elected officials because to be successful political support is crucial.
— Ruth Simpson, Chair, Dane County Food Council
• Most counties have a connection to the Cooperative Extension system which provides many research-
based education programs related to food production, safe affordable nutrition practices through the Nutrition Education Program for low-income families, essential family living issues, sustainable community development and long-term environmental quality. Cooperative Extension is also directly connected to the Land Grant University which is an important ally as well.
— Lee Cunningham, Dane County, UW-Extension, Depart- ment Head
• Look for well-positioned resource partners. For instance local colleges and universities, especially those public "Land Grant" universities, are an excellent place to look for expertise, resources, and partners for grants; it is part of their mission to support local communities, they can be a source of faculty expertise and student volunteers and they often have access to grant money.
— Gerry Campbell, Professor, University of Wisconsin Madison Extension
www.countyofdane.com/foodcouncil
Dawn Burgardt, Program Coordinator Dane County Food Council
210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Rm. 362 Madison WI 53703-3342 (608)266-4540 burgardt@co.dane.wi.us
A farm to school program exists when a K-12 school dis- trict or school purchases fruit, vegetables and other fresh products from local farms to serve as part of school meals and/or snacks. There is often an education component in which students learn about nutrition and the food supply. Education varies by program, but it is common for stu- dents to take trips to local farms and taste test and learn about topics such as animal husbandry, soil fertility and harvesting. It is also common for students to participate in school gardens, learning how to grow their own food and how this ties in with science, math and other subjects. Older students often participate in nutrient mapping ex- ercises and some schools offer cooking classes in which students prepare food using local ingredients. School size and capacity and involvement of local growers are three important factors that influence the scope of farm to school programs.
A Missoula Public Schools employee prepares locally grown peaches to serve with students' lunch.
A national farm to school movement has been build- ing for over a decade, bringing fresh nutritious food into school cafeterias while at the same time strengthening local farm economies. Supported by parents, schools, community groups, state preferential purchasing laws, the United States Department of Agriculture and the De- partment of Defense, farm to school programs now exist in 1,035 school districts in 35 states. The National Farm to School Network (www.farmtoschool.org/) provides infor- mation and resources to those involved. Farm to school programs are also part of a larger farm to cafeteria move- ment, which brings locally grown food into hospitals, jails, businesses, universities and other institutions.
Increasingly, community leaders are recognizing that farm to school programs have potential to counteract obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension among America's youth. If left unchanged the current eating habits of many of America's youth will result in significant consequences down the road: high medical costs, unnecessarily early death, and reduced quality of life.
Students eat up to 40% of their meals through the school meal programs. Thus, changing the menu and bringing locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables into cafeterias encourages America's children to consider the intersec- tion between their health and their food. It puts nutritious options in front of kids in an era when they are surrounded by ads for fast food, soft drinks and candy. Though food does not necessarily have to be local to be nutritious, locally grown food is often more flavorful, and kids are intrigued by the 'cool factor' of knowing that the food on their plates comes from places in their community.
Another benefit worth noting of local food purchasing is that food only has to be transported a short distance. This reduces the fuel required to ship it and cuts down on carbon emissions, road wear and cost.
How County Governments can Support Farm to School
Due to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Defense programs, as well as laws in a number of states, many counties will find that the re- sources to create vibrant farm to school programs in their communities already exist, and that they can capitalize on these resources by encouraging school and farm leaders to collaborate and take advantage of them.
There is also a need for local leadership in facilitating
Through cost analysis the school district found that buying these local seasonal foods was either less expensive or no more expensive than what it would have cost to purchase comparable foods through mainstream suppliers such as Food Services of America and Sysco.
10 • July 2007
preferential purchasing and production, distribution and storage needs. Due to the current wording of USDA farm to school rules many food service directors feel they can not use federal funds to purchase local food unless it is less expensive than all other comparable options. Counties can assist farm to school programs by supporting local purchasing and by helping fund it. Anther key county action is working with farmers to improve their ability to provide food to schools. Often times small and mid sized local farmers struggle to meet large orders of fruits and vegetables, lack processing facilities to transform their products into forms school kitchens can easily use (for instance washed, chopped, frozen vegetables that are ready to cook and serve) and lack an effective storage and transportation infrastructure to get their food to central school kitchens.
Counties can also support farm to school programs with general political, financial and educational assistance.
Best Practice Example: Farm to School
Missoula County, MT
Missoula Farm to
School began in 2005
thanks to a question
asked by a young
woman named Cris-
sie McMullan. As a
graduate student,
McMullan started the farm to college program at the University of Montana. In 2004, excited about the success of the farm to university program, McMullan reached out to the Food Service Manager of Missoula County Public Schools (MCPS) and asked if any of Missoula's thirteen school districts would be interested in starting up a farm to school program. The Food Service Manager was interested, but realized that sourcing from local farmers would require staff hours she couldn't spare. Encouraged by the Food Service Manager's interest, McMul- lan began looking for ways to provide the necessary staff support. In 2005 she secured a private sector grant that paid for two graduate students from the University of Montana to help start and staff Missoula Farm to School. The program serves students in Montana County Public School District 1.
In its first year, Missoula Farm to School built
relationships with farmers and tested the feasibility of sourcing from local farmers with two "Montana Made Meal Events." In each event 3,000 school children received a meal made with locally grown ingredients. The first meal event, held in the fall of 2005, included one food item each day of the week that was made entirely of Montana products. The sec- ond meal event, held in the spring of 2006, featured an entire meal made of Montana products. Despite a few minor glitches, the Montana Made Meal Events demonstrated to the Food Service Manager that working with local farmers was doable, and Mis- soula Farm to School staff began working to purchase Montana grown food on a regular basis. Thanks to their effort, in the first part of the 2006-2007 school year over 16,000 lbs of Montana grown food were purchased, including: oats, whole wheat flour, peaches, apples, cantaloupe, carrots, cucumbers, pota- toes, zucchini, cheese, pasta, honey and salad greens. Nearly all of these products were or- ganically grown. Through cost analysis the school district found that buying these local seasonal foods was either less expensive or no more expensive than what it would have cost to purchase comparable foods through mainstream suppliers such as Food Services of America and Sysco.
Missoula Farm to School provides an educational component to complement its food sourcing. Staff works with community partners to provide lessons to students about the food they eat, where it comes from, and how it is processed and prepared. Programs include field trips to local farms, taste tests of Montana grown foods, a mobile cooking cart in which students grind their own flour and make biscuits and a nutritional activity linking USDA guidelines to food production. Thus far, in the 2006-2007 year alone, Missoula Farm to School has helped provide educational programs to over 1,600 K-12 youth.
Missoula County Public School District 1 has been very supportive of Missoula Farm to School. Last year the Board of Trustees passed a unanimous resolution supporting the pro- gram, and the Food Service Director and farm to school staff held meetings with farmers to discuss what they were planning to plant so that they could reliably supply the food MCPS would need during the school year. One of the reasons Missoula Farm to School got off the ground and gained support so quickly is because of the community assets to which it
Ariel Bleth, Program Coordinator of Missoula Farm to School, teaches students what foods grow in their state.
has access. There is broad interest in the Missoula region for community supported agriculture and nutrition edu- cation. County and city officials sit on the regional food council, the Missoula City-County Health Department is dedicated to utilizing local farmers and gardeners as a tool to improve citizen nutrition, community gardens are grown on land donated by the city, the University of Montana offers numerous locally focused agriculture pro- grams, there is an established farmers market that accepts WIC/senior vouchers and Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, and there are local farmers who produce a large variety of food.
Thanks to this rich community environment, Missoula Farm to School had access to a pre-existing database of farmers, vendors and contractors, as well as contacts with producer groups such as the Western Montana's Growers Cooperative and a community of Hmong growers. Without this information, Missoula Farm to School staff would have had to spend significant time making cold calls to farmers figuring out how to supply and deliver enough products from different farms to meet school demand. Community contacts also helped Missoula Farm to School tackle the challenge of how to prepare locally grown products so that they meet the needs of school cafeterias. As in many public school districts, Missoula County Public School cafeteria and central kitchen staff have little flexibility in experimenting with new foods. Collaboration with the University of Montana, the Mission Mountain Market Enterprise and farms such as Common Ground Farm help
to create value-added forms of local foods, such as "carrot coins," which more easily meet the needs of institutional food procurement.
Missoula County's Role
Missoula County provides political support to Missoula Farm to School in a number of ways. The County encour- ages purchasing of local agricultural products in its legis- lation, such as the Missoula Greenhouse Gas and Energy Efficiency Plan and Joint Resolution Number 6889. Joint Resolution Number 6889 was passed by the City and the County in 2005 and is particularly important because it states that both governments will "actively support ef- forts to increase the security of the local food system so that it is based on sustainable agriculture." The resolution also supported the creation of the Community Food and Agriculture Coalition, the Missoula region's food policy council, and stipulates that a county commissioner serve on it. Commissioner Bill Carey currently fills this role, bring- ing with him a long history of work in Montana's food and nutrition communities. Missoula Farm to School is under the umbrella of the Community Food and Agriculture Coalition and shares in the support the County gives the council. The Missoula City-County Health Department also supports Missoula Farm to School as part of its promotion of local food system programs.
Benefits of Missoula Farm to School are numerous. Perhaps most important among them is that students are receiving fresh produce and dairy products as part of their school lunch. Having fresh, flavorful and visually appealing foods on student's lunch trays increases the chance that they will eat them and obtain important nutrients, as does the fact that the students know the foods come from their home state. Fresh products also tend to contain less sugar, salt, food colorings and preservatives. Large amounts of these ingredients have been linked to obesity, high blood pressure and other chronic health diseases; by familiariz- ing youth with alternatives Missoula Farm to School helps instill a preference for healthy foods. Students also benefit from the nutrition education Missoula Farm to School of- fers. Learning to think about the food they eat and what their bodies need from it is a life long skill that will help them maintain balanced nutrition.
The farm to school program also has economic benefits. Schools are major food purchasers. Knowing that they are willing to source locally is a significant incentive for farmers to expand their existing operations, and for interested par- ties to start new farms. This growth in the local agriculture sector generates income, jobs and opportunities for new service providers such as processors and distributors to establish themselves in the community.
Counties and Local Food Systems • 11
Other benefits of Missoula Farm to School include re- duced environmental impact. Missoula Farm to School reduces the County's environmental footprint by lowering the amount of resources needed to transport food from suppliers to schools (fuel to transport it, energy to cool it, packaging to transport it in, etc.).
Asked what they would say to officials interested in start- ing farm to school programs in their own counties, leaders in Missoula County gave the following advice:
• "Farm to School ideally links what happens in the cafeteria with what happens in the classroom, creating an entire school environment that supports healthy choices. For children to understand how their choices affect their own physical well-being, as well as that of their community and surrounding environment, it is essential that we provide them with the opportunity to build connection and relationship – with where their food comes from, who grows it and how it is prepared."
— Ariel Bleth, Program Coordinator, Missoula Farm to School
• All the communities in the country need to grow and prepare more of their own food. Missoula's Community Food and Agriculture Coalition and the programs it supports are on the leading edge of this effort."
— The Honorable Bill Carey, Commissioner, Missoula County
• "If you don't have a cooperative or a group in the community where people from the schools can meet with farmers and work out what foods are needed and how to supply them, start one. Communication is key to making farm to school programs work."
— Linda Samel, Food Service Director, Missoula County Public Schools District 1
• "The Missoula City-County Health Department got involved in efforts to grow locally available fresh foods and educate people about them because of the obesity and nutritional needs of our residents. This has proven a proactive way to improve citizen health and I recommend it to other health departments."
— Trudy Mizner, Nursing Services Supervisor, Missoula City-County Health Department
www.umt.edu/cfa/Farm%20To%20School2.htm
Ariel Bleth
Missoula Farm to School Program 219 S 3rd St W
(406) 549-0543 missoulaf2s@montana.com
for Local Producers
Woodbury County residents enjoy fresh food and good company at Fiona's Firehouse Bistro, a restaurant that serves locally grown vegetables, meat, and fruit.
Infrastructure for local producers means land on which to grow food, suppliers from which to purchase seeds, inputs, tools and machinery; facilities in which to store goods, processing and packing facilities to transform raw products into marketable ones, and shipping and distri- bution methods to deliver products to buyers.
No matter the size of their operation, farmers need in- frastructure in order to run effective businesses. To have a vibrant local food system, a county must have solid infra- structure to support it. In researching for this publication, examples of county-supported agriculture infrastructure development, particularly for mid and small sized farmers, were hard to find, though there were many calls for it.
In most agricultural communities at least some infra- structure is already in place to help farmers run successful
operations. Commonly, this infrastructure is geared to- wards large scale producers, and there is a growing need for infrastructure that accommodates mid and small sized producers. As Janie Burns, small farm entrepreneur from Canyon County, ID says, "The middle pieces are what's often missing for small farmers who want to expand their businesses. We can increase our supply, and we know that there is a demand for our products, but where do we process our foods and how do we transport and store them? Right now, most of those systems are designed to accommodate large scale producers and buyers rather than small operations."
Small and mid sized producers are most likely to sell their products locally, and infrastructure gives them the leg up they need to begin expanding production. It also encour- ages new small and mid sized entrepreneurs to start up operations. The federal government offers funding to communities who wish to build up community-oriented agriculture through USDA Extension grant programs such
The Board passed the Organics Conversion Policy and became the first county in
the nation to make tax rebates available to farmers who convert to organic agriculture.
Money is staying in the community.
as Community Food Projects and SARE. Infor- mation about these programs can be found at www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/communityfoodproj- ects.cfm and www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/sustain- ableagricultureresearchandeducation.cfm.
Though smaller farmers are more likely to sell locally, producers of all sizes provide fresh foods to communities, and all of them can use infrastructure help from local governments when faced with challenges such as changes in market demand and loss of agricultural base. Changes in market demand often require farmers to start raising different types of food or following new certification standards, and these changes can necessitate new processing facilities, storage, and distribution. Loss of the agricultural base occurs when falling commod- ity prices and/or development pressures lead to farm closures. If a community loses enough of its farms, suppliers and processors who have for years operated in the community may move away and leave remaining farmers stranded.
How County Governments Can Help Provide Infrastructure for Local
Depending on the need, county govern- ments can help provide local agricultural in- frastructure in different ways. If there is a need to support small and medium scale producers, counties often have the greatest impact by as- sisting in the creation of storage, processing, and distribution infrastructure that accommo- dates smaller producers. County government can do this by: streamlining permit processes for such facilities, providing mini-grants to- wards their creation, donating county resourc- es and helping farmers establish partnerships with community stakeholders who can offer these services.
If there is a need to respond to changing market conditions, counties can work with farmers and agriculture industry groups to sup- port new products and certification standards. If a community is at risk of loosing existing infrastructure, counties can offer infrastructure providers incentives to remain, such as tax rebates and political support. They can also ensure existing infrastructure providers that farming will remain a mainstay in the local economy for years to come through steps such as: conservation easements, financial aid for farmers, economic success strategies for local agriculture, political support and zoning.
Best Practice Example: Infrastructure
for Local Producers Woodbury County, IA
Woodbury Coun-
ty has recently
gained recognition
as one of the lead-
ing counties in the
effort to support local farm economies. A ma- jor reason for this is that in 2005 Woodbury County hired a Director of Rural Economic De- velopment and charged him with determin- ing why the county's traditional agricultural economy was declining and what they could do to simulate growth while maintaining the rural character of the community. One of the recommendations the Director made to the County Board was to encourage local purchasing. Another was to begin produc- ing organic niche products. Growing organic was not something that Woodbury County farmers had much experience with, but with a steady history of 20% growth or more per year and a gap in American suppliers, organic niche products seemed like a promising way to transition to a prosperous agricultural economy.
At the Director's recommendation, the Board passed the Organics Conversion Policy and became the first county in the nation to make tax rebates available to farmers who convert to organic agriculture. The Board also passed the Local Food Purchase Policy, which requires the County Food Service Contractor to purchase locally grown food, with a pref- erence for organics. In addition, the Board Passed the Woodbury Health Initiative which established a public campaign for healthy lifestyles. One aspect of the campaign is ini- tiating middle school cooking classes using local fresh ingredients.
It was in this context that the County and regional stakeholders began collaborating to build infrastructure to support local and organic farmers. One of the first steps was the opening of a store in Sioux City to sell locally grown and organic produce. Next, the County partnered with community stakeholders to renovate a commercial kitchen that is used by a local food/organic restaurant and will also soon be used to process organic salsa using locally grown ingredients. In the County's
Locally produced soaps are sold at the new Floyd Boulevard Local Foods Market.
most recent effort to improve infrastructure for local organic growers, the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Sioux City (county seat), and Woodbury County are tak- ing steps to market an existing 280,000 sq.ft. cold stor- age/packaging/distribution facility as a major initiative to develop the entire region into the "midwest center of the organic food industry".
The cold storage facility is unique among the County's efforts in that it is a large scale infrastructure investment by the firm of Jacobson-Bekin. It would be able to hold much more organic food than is currently produced in Woodbury County. The goal is to lease the entire space to organic growers from the greater area and develop a reputation for the Woodbury region as the place to go for organic agriculture services. This is not an unrealistic goal, considering that neighboring Cherokee County boasts BIOWA Natreseutical-Spectrum Organics' flax process- ing plant as well as American Natural Soy's processing plant. Entrepreneur Mark Schuett, founder of American Natural Soy, shares Woodbury County's desire to develop the region into an organic hub where growers send their products to be stored, processed, etc. He has seen his own business grow by tapping into the organics market, and believes that by investing in infrastructure to make the region a leader in organics Woodbury and Cherokee Counties could see huge gains in their economies and quality of life. Another step Woodbury County has taken in this direction is to acquire its own trademark, "Sioux City Sue" to brand foods produced from local ingredients. This brand will ideally function like other popular regional quality food labels such as Organic Valley.
Despite Woodbury County's efforts to support local and organic farmers, a change from traditional to organic agricultural practices has not taken place overnight. In a
community where farmers have been growing corn and soybeans for generations, many are not comfortable with changing their ways and are skeptical of 'hippie farm- ing.' But some change has taken place. Local sales have increased and two farms have converted to organic. In ad- dition, new jobs have been created due to the increased sales and the processing of local products.
Woodbury County's Role
Woodbury County played a major role in developing infrastructure to support local/organic farmers. That role began with the Board hiring a Director of Rural Economic Development and continued with their passing the Or- ganics Conversion Policy, Local Food Purchase Policy and Woodbury Health Initiative. Encouraged by these policies, two farms shifted to organic production and other local farmers began diversifying their production and looking to sell more goods to local buyers. This resulted in a need for new infrastructure.
To help create that infrastructure the County supported the creation and expansion of a local food store via politi- cal support and by purchasing food from the store through the County food service contractor. The Board worked with a coalition of stakeholders to fund the renovation of the commercial grade kitchen, giving $20,000 of the $100,000 project. Currently, the Chamber of Commerce is taking steps to establish a working relationship with Jacobson-Bekin, the owner of the cold storage facility that the County would like to see made available to organic producers.
Woodbury County growers sell fruits and vegetables at the newly created Sioux City Organic Farmer's Market.
Constituents benefit in a number of ways from the in- frastructure Woodbury County has created to support its local and organic farmers –a local foods store, an organic commercial grade kitchen and steps towards an organic cold storage facility. They have more access to fresh food through the local foods store. Money is staying in the community because the store is purchasing from local producers, shoppers are purchasing food from the store, and workers are being hired and paid by the store and the new salsa processing operation. If the County is successful in leasing the cold storage facility, it will be a big step to- wards creating a reputation for the Woodbury/Cherokee region as an organic production hub. Becoming a leader in the growing organic segment of the agriculture industry would invigorate Woodbury County's entire farm sector and also has the potential to slow another problem the community has struggled with of late: youth flight.
Few young people have chosen to stay on and continue the family farm in recent years. Some reasons for this are the financial hardships that most mainstream farmers face and the fact that conventional farming relies heavily on machinery and agrichemicals such as pesticides and fer- tilizers. Across the nation, younger people are more and more often drawn to organic farming. Some are taking note of what is going on in Woodbury County. One couple who grew up in Woodbury County and then moved to Texas is coming back and starting an organic farm.
Asked what they would say to officials interested in creating infrastructure and invigorating the economic prospects for producers in their own counties, leaders in Woodbury County and Cherokee County gave the follow- ing advice:
• "Most people think we have to look outside of Woodbury County to reinvigorate our economy, but we live in one of the richest agricultural areas in the world. We simply have to be willing to support local farmers and help them develop products that are lucrative in today's markets rather than putting them out of business just to save a few dollars in the short term."
— Robert Marqusee, Director, Woodbury County Rural Economic Development Dept.
• The growing market for locally raised fresh foods and organics is often much more obvious in urban areas than in traditional farm communities like ours. Because farmers don't see those products in the grocery stores they shop at, they often need to be educated about these emerging markets and the profits than can be made in them.
— Mark Buschkamp, Executive Director, Cherokee Area Economic Development
•Incorporating as many infrastructure projects in the region as you can is key. This creates a preferred
spot to have processing done and draws significant investment into the region. In terms of organic agriculture, a wide range of infrastructure services is especially important, because when you don't use pesticides you have to grow a greater variety of crops to keep the land fertile and weed free. Thus, you need not only corn and soy facilities, but also wheat and alfalfa facilities.
— Mark Schuett, President, American Natural Soy
www.woodbury-ia.com/departments/EconomicDevelop- ment/index.asp
Robert Marqusee
Director, Rural Economic Development (712) 279-6609 rmarqusee@sioux-city.org
Agricultural Conservation Easements
Agricultural conservation easement programs ensure that farms like these will remain available for food production for generations to come.
Agricultural conservation easements are deed restric- tions landowners voluntarily place on their property to keep land available for agriculture. They are flexible docu- ments tailored to each property and the needs of individual landowners. They may cover an entire parcel or portions of a property. Landowners (grantors) may either donate or sell easements to qualified conservation organizations, including: private land trusts, soil and water conservation districts and public agencies such as local, tribal and state governments. The conservation organization (grantee) is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the restrictions set forth in the agreement. After the easement is granted, the landowner retains title to the property and can con- tinue to live on and/or use the property.
At least 55 local governments and 27 states have de- veloped programs to purchase agricultural conservation easements. Furthermore, the USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service offers matching funds to established programs. Agricultural conservation easement programs and federal support for them exists because the farmland that is essential to America's food production is also flat, well drained and inexpensive to develop. By permanently protecting agricultural land, agricultural conservation easement programs preserve the capacity to produce food locally now and for future generations, setting the stage for community environments in which access to fresh food is something all citizens are accustomed to and rely on.
Many farmers who enter into agriculture conservation easements continue to grow crops and raise animals on their land, but a farmer does not necessarily have to farm under an agriculture conservation agreement. He must maintain his land in such a state that farming could resume in the future. Whether in use or not, communities enjoy the local history and culture, open space and envi- ronmental amenities that preserved farmland provides.
The community is not the only party to benefit when farmers sell or donate their development rights, farmers
More farmers are interested in selling their development rights than the agencies have funds to purchase.
benefit too. For those who want to keep the farm in the family for generations, agricultural conservation easements offer a form of estate planning. After selling their development rights farmer's taxes generally go down, and if they donate their rights rather than selling them there is a federal tax benefit. Selling development rights is also a way of tapping into the equity of one's property and gaining capitol that can be put towards farm improve- ments, debt or retirement.
How County Governments Can Support Farmland Conservation Easements
County governments can support agricul- tural conservation easement programs first and foremost by making such programs avail- able to their constituents. Counties can sup- port legislation and funding for agricultural conservation easements or work through the state or federal government to provide farmers with a conservation easement op- tion. Counties also can support a non-profit organization's creation of a land trust. Once a conservation agency has been established, county governments can support them by giving funds and/or political support.
Best Practice Example: Farmland Conservation Easements
In 1978, a group
of Lancaster County
citizens created an
Agriculture Preser-
vation Task Force and
began lobbying the Board
of Commissioners to take advantage of a re- cently passed state law that allowed for the purchase of development rights. They were motivated out of dismay at the loss of prime agricultural land and also out of a desire to preserve the farms that represented their livelihood, their heritage and their culture. After three years their work paid off and the Lancaster County Commissioners appointed a nine member Agricultural Preserve Board. Three years later, the county added staff members and made the Agricultural Preserve Board into an official department charged
with administering the purchase of develop- ment rights program for farmers.
During the nineties, the sizable Amish and Mennonite communities in Lancaster County became interested in conserving their farm- land as well, and the Lancaster Farmland Trust was created. The Lancaster Farmland Trust functions as a compliment to the Agricultural Preserve Board, offering a non-governmental option for preserving farmland. In 1999, both conservation agencies became incorporated into the Pennsylvania state agricultural pro- gram.
Since their inceptions the two conservation agencies have preserved over 69,000 acres of farmland, with the Agricultural Preserve Board preserving over 54,000 acres and the Lancaster Farmland Trust preserving over 15,000. This represents over a tenth of the land in the county. Today, both organizations have wait lists; more farmers are interested in selling their development rights than the agencies have funds to purchase. Of course, for those who can afford donate all or some of their development rights, the wait list is much shorter.
A farmer may also have a shorter wait de- pending upon the characteristics of his or her land. The Agricultural Preserve Board receives a sizable portion of its funding from the state, and as such is required to use GIS technology to rank which farms it should buy development rights from. Using GIS, the Agricultural Preserve Board compares soil quality, development potential, farm potential, and clustering (how close the farm is to others that have sold their development rights). The Lancaster Farmland Trust receives less funding through the state but has greater flexibility in how it prioritizes farms. Donations from local municipalities also help the conservation agencies in their work.
The efforts of Lancaster County's two agri- cultural conservation agencies have a strong overlap with the efforts of the County Plan- ning Commission. Since 1992, the County of Lancaster has been targeting new develop- ment to designated growth areas. Recently, the Commission also established designated rural areas. Because the state of Pennsylvania is a commonwealth, the County does not have ultimate authority when it comes to land use planning; the townships and Burroughs do. The Commission's plan is a suggestion, but generally the municipalities respect it. The work of the Agricultural Preserve Board
and the Lancaster Farmland Trust further strengthens the Commission's strategic plan by reinforcing the 'designated rural areas' with conserved farmland.
Lancaster County's Role
The County of Lancaster has played a major role in the agricultural conservation ease- ment programs. The Agricultural Preserve Board is an official county department, with a nine member board and a staff of six people including a Director appointed by the Board of Commissioners. The county also provides generous funding to the Agriculture Preserve Board. In 2006 and 2007 it provided eight million dollars through a specially created bond. The county also supports the Lancaster Farmland Trust with one million dollars in 2006 and again in 2007.
The designated rural and growth areas that the Lancaster County Planning Commission has set have a significant influence on where the Agricultural Preserve Board and the Lan- caster Farmland Trust purchase development rights. In addition, the goals and projects to which the Planning Commission is commit- ted also influence their work. The Planning Commission is currently working to find
innovative ways to maintain a vibrant farm economy, such as using methane from manure to create a renewable energy source and look- ing to connect farmers with the niche markets of nearby cities on the Eastern Seaboard. The Agricultural Preserve Board and the Lancaster Farmland Trust keep this in mind when they interact with farmers.
By putting aside 69,000+ acres of land for the sole purpose of farming, Lancaster County has created stability and assurance that agri- culture will remain as a mainstay in the local economy. This is especially important for young people who have watched agricultural infrastructure dwindle in other agrarian com- munities due to changes in land use practices, but nonetheless want to remain in their com- munity and continue in the tradition of their ancestors. Knowing that there is enough criti- cal land mass to maintain farm suppliers and service providers such as shipping, storage and processing gives future farmers the peace of mind to follow their dreams.
Preserving farmland has also encour- aged smart growth in Lancaster County. The County's zoning and agricultural conservation
By putting aside 69,000+ acres of land for the sole purpose
of farming, Lancaster County has created stability and assurance that agriculture will remain as a mainstay in the local economy.
Conserved farmland in Lancaster County.
Health Care Delivery and Financing • 19
easement programs have resulted in seventy five percent of new buildings going up in designated growth areas, areas that are easily serviced by municipalities. This higher density development has saved local governments a sig- nificant amount of money in infrastructure costs.
Preserving farmland in Lancaster County is also benefi- cial because it ensures a constant future supply of fresh foods to constituents. Preserving farmland does not always have this effect, because in some counties farms are dedicated solely to producing a few commodity crops, but in Lancaster County there are a number of farms pro- ducing a wide range of fresh foods. These foods are sold at farm stands and farmers markets, and served in local restaurants.
Asked what they would say to officials interested in starting agriculture conservation easement programs in their own counties, leaders of the Lancaster farmland conservation effort gave the following advice:
• There are plenty of reasons to conserve farmland: to prevent sprawl, to maintain a strong farm economy, food security both at the local and national level. Certain arguments will resonate more in different communities, and in some communities you'll face more skepticism than others. Always be prepared to answer the question: Would the value of the land be greater if it were put to other uses?
— Matt Knepper, Director, Lancaster County Agricultural Preserve Board
• The easy part is preserving the land. Preserving agriculture, which is the idea behind farmland conservation easements, is much harder. To do so, local governments must help farmers adapt to changing markets and the global economy and ensure that some kind of agricultural industry continues.
— Dean Severson, Lancaster County Planning Commis- sion
•Farmland conservation agencies exist to assist people in maintaining a lifestyle and a community. The best way to go about doing that is to develop a reputable program and strong personal relationships with local farmers.
— Peter Olmstead, Lancaster Farmland Trust
Lancaster County Agricultural preserve Board
www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco/cwp/view. asp?A=371&Q=384772
Matt Knepper
Agricultural Preserve Board 50 N. Duke St
Lancaster, Pa. 17608-3480 (717) 299-8355
Lancaster Farmland Trust
www.lancasterfarmlandtrust.org/index.html
Peter Olmstead Lancaster Farmland Trust 125 Lancaster Avenue Strasburg, PA 17579 717-687-8484
25 Massachusetts Avenue, NW l Suite 500 l Washington, DC 20001 202.393.6226 l fax 202.393.2630 l www.naco.org
DISTRIBUTION MODELS FOR FARM TO SCHOOL
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Tag: Macau
Malaysia Frees North Korean Detainee Over Kim's Death
The Police in Malaysia have released the only North Korean arrested in connection with the death of Kim Jong-Nam.
Officials said there was insufficient evidence to charge Ri Jong Chol, but he would be deported over immigration offences.
Nearly three weeks after the killing, Malaysia condemned the use of powerful VX nerve agent in the attack.
The Malaysian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was "greatly concerned" the nerve agent could have endangered the public.
Mr Kim, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un, died on February 13 at an airport in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.
Posted on March 3, 2017 Author Akinola AjibolaCategories World NewsTags 9ja News, BBC, channels television.news, channelstv.com, China, CNN, Indonesian, Kuala Lumpur, latest nigerian news, Macau, Malaysian, naij.com, news across nigeria, PM News, premiumtimes, punchng.com, Sahara Reporters, Vanguard NewsLeave a comment on Malaysia Frees North Korean Detainee Over Kim's Death
North Korean Man Arrested Over Kim Jong-Nam's Murder
The police in Malaysia say a North Korean national has been arrested over the killing of North Korean Leader's half-brother.
The first North Korean to be arrested over Kim Jong-Nam's death has been identified as 46-year-old Ri Jong Chol.
An Indonesian woman, a Malaysian man and a woman with a Vietnamese passport had been detained earlier.
Police believe poison was sprayed into Mr Kim's face as he waited to board a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Macau.
South Korea's intelligence agency has accused the country's rivals in the north, of assassinating Kim Jong-Nam, saying Pyongyang had wanted to kill him for years but that he was being protected by China.
They also claimed that the young, unpredictable North Korean leader had issued a "standing order" for his elder half-brother's assassination, and that there had been a failed attempt in 2012.
Kim Jong Nam had spoken out publicly against his family's dynastic control of the isolated, nuclear-armed state, and he had also expressed fears for this safety.
Posted on February 18, 2017 February 18, 2017 Author Rejoice EwodageCategories World NewsTags 9ja News, BBC, channels television.news, channelstv.com, China, CNN, Indonesian, Kuala Lumpur, latest nigerian news, Macau, Malaysian, naij.com, news across nigeria, PM News, premiumtimes, punchng.com, Sahara Reporters, Vanguard NewsLeave a comment on North Korean Man Arrested Over Kim Jong-Nam's Murder
Nigerian Special Athletes Continue To Impress In Los Angeles
Team Nigeria has won nine medals at the ongoing Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles. The medals are six gold and three silver.
The star boy of day-5 is Sunday Olowoniyi. The 20-year-old beat Panama's Loaiza Tamir and South Korea's Jeong Seong Jun by three games to top the men's singles division six and win another table tennis gold for Nigeria.
Victoria White set the ball rolling on day-4 of the competition, winning gold in table-tennis. It was an almost flawless performance by the young Nigerian who defeated her opponents from India, Macau and the United Arab Emirates without dropping a game in her division.
Rasaq Muraina and Jeffrey Olu-Imaferami continued the gold rush for Nigeria with excellent displays in badminton, adding to the cycling gold won by Emuwa Chidubem in the 500 meters time trial.
Sikiru Sadiq threw a distance of 6.72 meters to win silver in the 4kg division mo8 shot put event, while the basketball team rounded off proceedings with an exciting 28-23 win over Belgium.
Once again, Moshood Popoola emerged the star of a good team performance scoring 10 points and recording 10 rebounds. The next game is a top of the table clash against Korea.
Team Nigeria started their campaign at the Special Olympics World Games with Tejumoluwa Ogunlela winning silver in division 15 of the 100 metres women's freestyle.
Adebiyi Olatunji and Adedamola Roberts consolidated to win gold and silver in division 17 of the 100 meters men's freestyle event.
On day-2, Nigeria crushed South Africa 6-0 in division one of the unified soccer event. Two first half goals from Daniel Osadolo ensured a great start at the Balboa Sports Center.
In the second half, Coach Stephen Adeyomo's team turned up the heat on their opponents with further goals from Abubakar Adebayo and Eziema Chukwudi, ensuring a comfortable win.
On the same day, Nigeria defeated Canada 33-21 points in Basketball, to advance to the next round. The West African team dominated the first quarter 17-9, but the Canadians fought back in the third to reduce the deficit. The 4th quarter saw another close battle, before Nigeria eventually pulled away late in the game.
With athletes such as Sadiq Sikiru, Chidubem Emuwa, Fatai Fatimoh and Mbum Esther also receiving medals for successful outings in shot put, cycling and standing long jump.
Team Nigeria will be hoping the medal chase continues before the competition ends on August 2, 2015.
The 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games opened on July 25, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. The 2015 Games feature competitions in aquatics, gymnastics, track and field, basketball, football (soccer) and many other summer sports involving 6,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities from around the world.
Posted on July 31, 2015 August 1, 2015 Author Donyoh DonneyCategories SportsTags 100 metres women's freestyle, 360 nobs, Abubakar Adebayo, Adebiyi Olatunji, Adedamola Roberts, Africa, Ambode, Balboa Sports Center, bbc.com, Bella Naija, Buhari, chairman channels television, Channels News, Channels TV, Chidubem Emuwa, Coach Stephen Adeyomo, Cycling, Daniel Osadolo, Emuwa Chidubem, Eziema Chukwudi, Fatai Fatimoh, FIFA, Guardian Newspaper, India, Jeffrey Olu-Imaferami, Macau, Mbum Esther, men's singles division six, Moshood Popoola, newsnow.co.uk, nigeerian info, Nigeria, Nigeria defeated Canada 33-21, Nigeria news, nigerian media house, Nigerian tribune, osinbajo, Panama's Loaiza Tamir, Politics, Punch Newspaper, Rasaq Muraina, reuters.com, Sadiq Sikiru, shot put, Sikiru Sadiq, South Korea's Jeong Seong Jun, Special Olympics World Games, Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, sport news, standing long jump, Sunday Olowoniyi, table tennis gold for Nigeria, Team Nigeria, Tejumoluwa Ogunlela, tvc news, UAE, United Arab Emirates, Victoria White, West African team, winning gold in table-tennis, World NewsLeave a comment on Nigerian Special Athletes Continue To Impress In Los Angeles
BOXING: Pacquiao-Rios Fight Build Up Marred By Trainers' Altercation
The build up to Manny Pacquiao's fight against Brandon Rios at the weekend was marred on Wednesday by a spat between the two camps.
Pacquiao's coach Freddie Roach and his counterpart Robert Garcia were involved in a slanging match at a gym in Macau.
Rios was booked in to train from 9am until 11am with Pacquiao due after him, and when Roach and others from the Filipino's team arrived, he became involved in a furious exchange with Garcia and members of Rios' entourage.
The dispute added an extra edge to the pre-fight press conference, with promoter Bob Arum joking that he would get an American television celebrity to adjudicate.
"There is a controversy and it has to be decided," said Arum. "So I've asked my wife, Lovee, who's sitting out there, to call our friend Judge Judy. And we're going to do something on Skype and each of them will present the case and Judy will decide. I don't know if you Chinese people, know who Judge Judy is?"
The incident didn't seem to impress Pacquiao, who is dedicating the fight to those in the Philippines who lost their lives to Typhoon Haiyan.
"No trash talking before the fight," he said. "It's not a good example to all the people who are admiring boxing. For me, all I can say is that if anyone has a grievance against anyone, forgive as the Lord forgives. All I can say is this is a sport, nothing personal. We are doing our job in the ring and after that, you know, nothing personal… this is our job to perform and entertain people.
After cutting a swathe through the lighter weights between 2005 and 2011 when he won world titles from super-featherweight through to welterweight, Pacquiao has lost his last two fights, a split decision to Timothy Bradley and a sixth round knockout to fierce rival Juan Manuel Marquez.
At 34 and with 18 years and 61 fights as a professional behind him, Pacquiao is past his peak, but is keen to raise his game for what could, potentially, be the final time given what has happened in his native country.
Roach, who has long guided Pacquiao's career, said the former eight-weight world champion was in the shape of his life having trained in the Philippines for the fight in his native General Santos City.
"We had a great training," he said. "Manny's been training really hard for this fight. General Santos was a great training camp. Manny was at home nd he was very comfortable. Every day was a good day. We did a lot of hard work. I came about six weeks ago but Willy McMillan ran the camp for the first two weeks and did a great job. Manny's in the best shape of his life and I expect him to have the performance of a lifetime and I've never seen him look better."
Speaking briefly about the earlier bust up, Roach sought to lay the blame on Garcia. Garcia, for his part, said that Roach was at fault.
It shouldn't detract from what should be a fascinating encounter, especially as Rios says he has improved his discipline ahead of the fight.
Twice recently Rios came in overweight for lightweight title fights, and he lost last time out to Mike Alvarado when challenging for the interim WBO light-welterweight title.
He should be more comfortable at welterweight, and said Pacquaio would be in for a shock if he had underestimated him.
The fight is slated to hold on Saturday, November 23, at the Venetian Macao in Macau, China.
Posted on November 21, 2013 Author Channels TelevisionCategories SportsTags Bob Arum, Brandon Rios, China, General Santos City, Juan Manuel Marquez, Judge Judy, Macau, Manny Pacquiao, Mike Alvarado, Pacquiao-Rios, Philippines, Robert Garcia, Skype, Trainers' Altercation, Typhoon Haiyan, Venetian Macao, WBO light-welterweight title, Willy McMillanLeave a comment on BOXING: Pacquiao-Rios Fight Build Up Marred By Trainers' Altercation
Kung Fu Panda, Shrek Debut In World's Biggest Gambling Destination
DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc, the movie studio famous for family films like "Madagascar" and "Shark Tale", has entered into a licensing agreement in Macau, the world's biggest gambling destination, in a push to diversify revenues.
The deal with billionaire Sheldon Adelson's Sands China Ltd allows the casino operator to use characters like Shrek and Po from "Kung Fu Panda" in the casinos as Sands moves to attract leisure and family visitors.
California-based DreamWorks announced the deal on Tuesday with popular franchise characters on display. Guests at Sands' Venetian and Cotai Central resorts will be able to see and interact with the characters during their stays, the film company said. The deal takes effect on July 1.
DreamWorks' venture in Macau may help boost the $2 billion company's efforts in China after it posted its first quarterly loss in almost six years in February.
In an advertising splash, DreamWorks took out three full-page color advertisements on Tuesday in Hong Kong's main English-language newspaper, the South China Morning Post, displaying Po, Shrek, and the animal cast of "Madagascar", asking readers to guess where they were taking their next holiday.
Macau, a former Portuguese colony, is the only place in China where people are legally allowed to gamble in casinos. More than two-thirds of Macau's visitors come from mainland China.
Chinese and Macau government officials have been pushing for casino operators like Sands to diversify their operations to appeal to a more mass-market international tourist destination.
Macau is heavily reliant on the gambling industry, with more than 70 percent of tax revenues coming from the casinos. Tourists come primarily to gamble as opposed to Las Vegas, where shows, fine dining and other forms of entertainment are in higher demand.
Rival casino operators located adjacent to Sands' resorts on Macau's Cotai strip have also been trying to diversify their gambling offerings. Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd, owned by Hong Kong billionaire Lawrence Ho and Australian tycoon James Packer, produces the House of Dancing Water show, while Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd has a cinema and a skytop wave pool.
Posted on April 30, 2013 Author Channels TelevisionCategories EntertainmentTags Animation, Cartoon, Casinos, channels television, Channels TV, China, Donkey, DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc, entertainment news, Family Movie, gambling, hark Tale, Kung Fu Panda, Macau, madagascar, Po, Sands China Ltd, Sheldon Adelson, ShrekLeave a comment on Kung Fu Panda, Shrek Debut In World's Biggest Gambling Destination

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Film students bank on success
BA Film and Broadcast Production students at London Metropolitan University are playing a key role in boosting the profile of The Bank of England.
BA Film and Broadcast Production students at London Metropolitan University are playing a key role in boosting the profile of The Bank of England after being commissioned to make over 30 films for the organisation.
The students, who study in the Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design, are part of We Make Films, a production company run by students and staff.
After submitting a pilot to The Bank, the students were asked to produce more videos for its website and other promotional channels.
Patrick Clopon, one of the students commissioned, said: "It was a great relief that they liked our prototypes so much. Our first day at The Bank was really daunting because they are so socially and economically respected, and needless to say we wanted to make a good impression. Thanks to our amazing team and lecturer Charlotte Worthington, who guided as through it all, we were able to really impress them with our efficiency and practicality."
Fellow student Divine Angela Ekeleme added: "The Bank of England commissioning us to do more was a big deal to me because we are a newly formed company. To have them liking our work is confirmation that our lecturers have done a great job."
Elsewhere, talented students from We Make Films recently interviewed Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow. They were commissioned by the Royal Society of Arts in partnership with the website The Samosa, which hosts sophisticated political reporting and intelligent commentary on Pakistan.
The team travelled to ITN's London studios to meet the famous journalist, but any nerves they had were quickly eased by Jon's warm and down-to-earth manner.
"He was so natural and easy going," said Suzanne Wakefield, one of the students who interviewed the veteren journalist. "I was nervous that I would mess up the questions by speaking too fast, but after meeting Mr Snow before the interview I was put at ease by his friendly personality and charm.
"The interview flowed without a hitch, with Mr Snow answering the questions with personal insight and thought. Afterwards he stayed for a few extra minutes for us to take some personal and professional snaps!"
The project is one of many commissions from real clients that stem from the DIY Studio run by lecturer Charlotte Worthington as part of the BA Film and Broadcast Production course - another example of London Met's commitment to giving students quality, real-life experiences.
Find out more about The Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design.


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Half Yearly Human Rights Situation in Bangladesh, January-June, 2020
Home / Monitoring & Documentation / Reports / Half Yearly Human Rights Situation in Bangladesh, January-June, 2020
by Human Rights Support Society in Monitoring & Documentation, Reports
In spite of having constitutional obligation and international laws and treaties, human rights are drastically violated in Bangladesh. Although the state is the defender of all sorts of human rights, in most of the cases related to human rights violation, state authorities fail to protect its citizen's right with the help of law enforcement agencies. Sometimes we see law enforcement agencies and administration to some extent were involved in human rights violation rather than protection of citizen's right. Consequently, the state could not properly ensure justice, peace and security to its citizens. At the same time, human rights situation has become very frightful because of the government limited political and civil society space, restriction on freedom of expression, culture of impunity for security forces and ruling party, intimidation and extortion by the law enforcing agencies along with the ruling party leaders. As a result, all sorts of unlawful activities including Extra-Judicial killing, Enforced Disappearance, Custodial torture and death, Border killing, Attack on minorities, Violence against women were massively spread out in society. As a human rights organization, HRSS is dedicated to ensuring all sorts of human rights for people through building awareness as well as monitoring and publishing human rights situations, helping destitute people and conducting advocacy with the government and other concerned authorities from home and abroad. As part of this initiative, HRSS is going to publish Half Yearly Report from January to June, 2020. The report shows that the overall human rights condition in the first six months of 2020 is as frightful as it was in 2019 and has become deteriorated to some extend.
According to HRSS, from January to June 2020: a total of 167 persons were reportedly extra-judicially killed. Of them, 124 were killed in the name of 'crossfire/ gunfights/infights', 13 tortured to Death, 05 shot to death, and 25 were died in the custody in a total of 142 incidents.On the other hand, a total of 05 persons have been 'disappeared' by the law enforcement agencies in different incidents.
In the meantime, during the first six months of 2020, a total of 527 females were raped. Among them, 226 victims were adults whereas alarmingly 301 were children under the age of 16. It's a grave concern that 97 have been victims of gang-raped and 19 were brutally killed after being raped. Meanwhile, 83 women were killed in family feud related violence, 17 females injured and 18 females suicide for Family feud in 118 incidents. Approximately, 39 incidents of dowry-related violence were reported, where 15 were killed and 24 women physically abused over dowry demand. A total of 93 girls and women were reportedly victims of sexual harassment. During the first six months of 2020, 04 incidents of acid throwing have occurred and 07 injured. It is also alarming that in a total of 52 violent incidents against children from January to June 2020, 18 lost their lives and 39 were critically injured.
It has been reported by HRSS that, 51 journalists were injured, 08 threatened, 11 arrested and 11 were assaulted in nearly 65 incidents during the first six months of 2020. Meanwhile, 71 people have been arrested and 103 cases filed in a total of 63 incidents of the Digital security act 2018. HRSS has also observed the incidents of attacks on minorities during the first six months of 2020, where at least 04 temples were partially or fully destroyed and 01 house attacked. Meanwhile, 01 land grabbing and 01 minority members were injured in 07 incidents. Moreover, at least 16 people were
Half Yearly Human Rights Report, January- June'20
killed and 803 people injured in political violence, whereas around 25 people were killed in public lynching.
On the other hand, According to the half-yearly report of HRSS, roughly 24 Bangladeshi citizens have been killed, 06 injured, 08 shot, and 12 persons were arrested by BSF (Indian Border Security Force) in a total of 34 incidents.
It has also been reported that 92 were killed in a violent attack on unarmed civilians between January and June 2020. Meanwhile, in a total of 28 incidents of inhuman torture and shooting by law Enforcement Agencies (LEA), 318 people were injured, 01 hit by bullet, and 41 people tortured during the first six months of 2020.
HRSS is deeply concerned about the degradation of the human rights conditions in the country. It urges all human rights organizations as well as common citizens to raise their voice to protect and promote human rights in Bangladesh.
Half Yearly Human Rights Situation Report'2020 (Download Full report in English, PDF)
Human Rights Situation in Bangladesh 2021
বাংলাদেশ মানবাধিকার পরিস্থিতি ২০২১


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Wendi Adelson's attorney asks judge to quash defense subpoena
FILE PHOTO: Wendi Adelson takes the stand in Katherine Magbanua's 2019 trial.(WCTV)
Published: May. 17, 2022 at 2:01 PM EDT|Updated: May. 17, 2022 at 3:15 PM EDT
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - Wendi Adelson's attorneys are now asking the judge to throw out a defense subpoena to testify in the retrial of Katherine Magbanua.
The motion was filed Friday but unsealed Tuesday morning.
Adelson is listed as a state witness and is expected to testify in Magbanua's retrial, subject to cross-examination by the defense.
Adelson's attorney, John Lauro, told WCTV that Adelson "will definitely be testifying under the state subpoena."
He said the motion was filed in response to Magbanua's defense team trying to "piggyback" on the back end of the state's subpoena.
According to Lauro, only the state subpoena carries immunity.
"Given the state's theory of the case, there is no question that Adelson has a real and substantial interest in asserting her rights against compelled testimony," her attorney, John Lauro said. "In these proceedings, Adelson has thus made an unequivocal and complete invocation of her rights under the U.S. and Florida constitutions."
It is not clear when the judge will make a decision on Adelson's request to quash the defense subpoena or how it could impact the case.
Adelson did testify in Magbanua's first trial in 2019.
Her attorney told WCTV he believes Adelson may start her testimony in this trial as early as Thursday morning.
You can view the court document Adelson's attorneys filed at this link or below.
Motion for permission to place statement on record, quash defense subpoena for Wendi Adelson by WCTV Digital Team on Scribd


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A CAUTIONARY TALE: MD. HOSPITALS JOIN RANKS OF MONEY-LOSERS ON PPMS
Mary Chris Jaklevic
Venture capitalists and Wall Street investors aren't the only ones suffering from the carnage in the physician practice management industry. Hospitals, too, are bleeding.
Take the case of Doctors Health, a primary-care venture in Maryland that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month.
Doctors Health was founded by two physician entrepreneurs in the mid-1990s, when the industry was a hot new commodity. At the time, St. Joseph Medical Center, a 460-bed hospital in Towson, Md., considered itself lucky to be in on the ground floor as an investor in the company.
The suburban Baltimore hospital plunked down $3.5 million in seed money to launch Doctors Health. For a commitment of up to $5 million-$1.5 million of which was never invested-the hospital received a 10% equity stake.
Last year, University of Maryland Medical System added to the pot, investing $5 million in Doctors Health to align with the company's vast primary-care network.
Both organizations were looking for a strategic alternative to buying physician practices. They also expected to turn a profit if the company went public.
As it turns out, they'll probably never see their money again. Yet both systems claim they have no regrets, viewing the experience as a learning process that has also benefited their business.
For St. Joseph, gaining board approval in 1995 was difficult. "It was by far the biggest investment we had made" in a physician venture, says John Ellis, St. Joseph's executive vice president for finance and administration.
But the start-up was backed by the hospital's then-vice president of planning and marketing, Jeff Lefko. He had developed a close relationship with the physician founders, Alan Kimmel, M.D., and Scott Rifkin, M.D., during a previous job at Baltimore's Union Memorial Hospital, Ellis says.
That relationship has continued. In fact, Lefko now works at Rifkin's new venture, America's Doctor Online, a medical service launched by America Online, Ellis says.
Doctors Health eventually garnered venture capital and acquired clinics employing 120 primary-care physicians, in addition to at least 800 physicians who participated in its contracting network.
But the company's drive to go public caused it to grow too quickly and accept contracts it couldn't manage, some observers say. Doctors Health was also a victim of bad timing. Most of its business came from Medicare HMOs, many of which this year announced a mass exodus from the market.
Despite the firm's demise, St. Joseph maintains the investment was a "home run" because Doctors Health helped the hospital develop hospitalist and care-management programs and expand its managed-care business. St. Joseph, an affiliate of Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives, reported net income of $14 million on revenues of $190 million for the fiscal year ended June 30.
Likewise, the University of Maryland system has no regrets. "I think we would have lost far more (than $5 million) had we chosen the alternative, which was to buy doctors. I think that was even more of a flawed strategy," says David Rorison, M.D., chief executive of University Care, a contracting and integration arm of the university medical system, faculty physicians and medical school.
The affiliation with Doctors Health resulted in 30 new admissions per month to the system, Rorison says.
"Even in the absence of Doctors Health, we still have relationships with primary-care physicians who will continue to be a source of referrals, even if it's not within a (managed-care) contract," Rorison says.
Still, what happened to Doctors Health serves as a cautionary tale. St. Joseph has been more careful with another physician venture, Maryland Personal Physicians, in which it invested $10 million last year.
Unlike Doctors Health, Maryland Personal Physicians was founded by a hospital, Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. Upper Chesapeake Health System, based in Fallston, Md., and individual physician investors also hold equity positions.
The hospital shareholders control 10 of its 16 board seats, and physicians fill the remainder.
The company does not intend to go public, which allows for slow, controlled growth.
"We've been very selective about which physicians join us," says Sandy Edwards, its vice president for corporate services and business development. He says the firm has targeted "high-quality, busy physicians who are not looking to walk away from their practices."
So far, the White Marsh, Md.-based venture has garnered a network of 160 primary-care physicians and has another 400 specialists in subcapitation contracts. It has capitated contracts covering about 30,000 HMO enrollees.
"We have representation on all the committees of that company, so we have a close watch," Ellis says. "Hopefully, we won't make the same mistake twice."
Beyond the Byline: Texas COPA law may pave the way for more hospital M&A - Transcript


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Te Papa
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If you've ever wondered what's involved when museums loan and borrow taonga, you're in luck: our Loans and Acquisitions Advisor Amy Cosgrove sheds light on the process behind Ko Rongowhakaata: The Story of Light and Shadow, as well as revealing an 'average' day.Read more
Remembering Te Papa's opening day
20 years ago today, on 14 February 1998, Te Papa opened its doors for the first time. The day was marked by food, music, and celebration. Hay bales laid out on the forecourt lent the occasion a rural, and particularly Kiwi, flavour. New Zealand bands entertained the huge crowds. The sun shone, and the wind blew. Author Conal McCarthy, history curator Stephanie Gibson, and ex-staff member Lauren McEwan-Nugent share their memories from the day. Read more
Condoms, critics, and controversies: Te Papa's early days
14 Feb marks ours 20th anniversary. Author of 'Te Papa: Reinventing New Zealand's national museum' Conal McCarthy retells some of the early criticisms, controversies, and protests when we opened in 1998.Read more
In: Art, History
Pasifika on top: your most viewed objects of 2017
In 2017 you viewed 200,000 of our Collections Online objects. We take a look at the top 10 most popular, of which 60% relate to Pacific culture.Read more
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Te reo Kiwi: Are you using Māori every day?
Te Papa is always looking for creative ways to promote te reo Māori. What are some of the ways we're doing that?Read more
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Cross-pollination experiments with one of New Zealand's rarest trees
When an incredibly rare native tree – the Bartlett's rātā – flowered for the first time in a quarter-century, Botany curator Carlos Lehnebach was ready with his tweezers. Bartlett's rātā is one of the most threatened trees in New Zealand. It's also one of our rarest species, with only 13Read more
Big Ted to Rita Angus: Gems uncovered while revamping Collections
We asked the team working on the new Collections Online website to share their favourite objects and images they've found along the way and tell us a little bit about working on this massive project.Read more
In: Behind the scenes, Collections Online
Students give our store windows the WOW factor
When the World of Wearable Arts show is in town we like to join the festivities by handing over our shop windows to students from Wellington High School and Queen Margaret College. The year 13 fashion and materials technology students display their own striking wearable art creations as part of their course.Read more
Meeting a man I will never know: Jonathan Mane-Wheoki
Ruby Abraham, a Museum and Heritage Studies student at Victoria University, has spent the last five weeks on placement at Te Papa working intimately with the archive donated by Jonathan Mane-Wheoki (1943-2014).Read more
On: 18 Jul 2017
In: Art, Māori
Putting the pieces back together after the earthquake
Charlotte Jimenez, an intern from the Institut National du Patrimoine in Paris, has spent the last three months putting more than 250 pieces of the plaster tauihu back together. Here she explains the intricate process.Read more
Classic rugby photos by photojournalist Peter Bush, in his own words
Photojournalist Peter Bush has been photographing the All Blacks and New Zealand rugby since 1949, on assignment for The New Zealand Herald.Read more
On: 13 Jun 2017
Te Papa curators respond to Donald Trump's refugee ban
In the wake of US President Donald Trump's order to ban refugees entering the country, cultural institutions across the globe have been vocal in protest. Here Te Papa curators share their thoughts.Read more
In: Art, History, Māori
War by post and bullet
Scott Flutey, a summer scholar from Victoria University of Wellington, has just finished an Honours year in History. He dives into the world of stamps and postal history. I'm currently researching the Gerald Ellott philatelic collection at Te Papa as part of the three-year Soldiers of Empire research project, led by Professor CharlotteRead more
Opinion: More to art collections than meets the eye
An art gallery is a theatre where art takes centre stage. But it is also an archive, a refuge, even a hospital, says Te Papa's Head of Art Charlotte Davy. A recent story highlighted the art collections held by Councils and the proportion of their art works on public display.Read more
Collecting is in our bones: our youngest exhibitor shares his story
From tin toys to antique Chinese wood figures, Star Wars memorabilia and elephants – for the past 18 years, Te Papa has displayed peoples' precious collections in Inspiration Station, one of four children's discovery centres in the museum. But this summer will be the last chance for visitors to see itemsRead more


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· Posted on Oct 3, 2016
Conservative MP Crispin Blunt Calls For The Legalisation Of All Drugs
"My view is clearly that I would move to regulate all drugs," Blunt told BuzzFeed News.
by Jamie Ross
BuzzFeed Scotland Reporter
Anthony Devlin / PA ARCHIVE IMAGES
Crispin Blunt, former prisons minister
All drugs, including heroin and cocaine, should be regulated by the government, a Conservative MP has told BuzzFeed News.
Crispin Blunt, the former prisons minister, said he would like to see measures in place so all drugs could be taxed and controlled, and has called for a public inquiry into whether the law should be changed.
Speaking after an event on cannabis decriminalisation at the Conservative conference in Birmingham, Blunt said he believed prime minister Theresa May could eventually be persuaded to back him due to pressure from the international community.
He told the event he had previously been dissuaded from asking difficult questions about drugs policy by ministers for fear "it might unpick the government's entire drugs strategy".
"When I ... asked the [government] to tell me just how much did drugs cost the criminal justice system, remarkably, answer came there none," he said.
Earlier this year, Blunt "outed" himself as a user of poppers in an attempt to persuade parliament against making them illegal.
"I think the appropriate next step would be a royal commission to look at policy in this area," said Blunt. "My view is clearly that I would move to regulate all drugs – alcohol is a drug which is regulated and taxed, as is tobacco, and many make the case that marijuana is significantly less toxic than alcohol.
"It's clearly toxic in some cases and there have been dreadful cases of schizophrenia which appear to come from cannabis use … but, if you have a regulated supply, you have clean cannabis, as you would with every other supply of illegal drug."
Blunt said he was unaware of any Conservative parliamentary colleagues who supported him on drug decriminalisation, saying there was pressure on MPs who wanted to advance their careers to not speak up about the "politically difficult" issue.
"My ministerial career is 100% behind me, so I can be slightly braver about taking positions which I did argue for while in office, but was constrained by collective responsibility," he said.
The former prisons minister said that as more countries and regions decriminalise drugs, it will become more acceptable for ministers, and possibly even the prime minister, to back it in the UK.
"There is a growing body of opinion in support of a royal commission," said Blunt. "It's not an issue which will go away, because the global environment is changing around us.
"Any number of ministers and presidents are calling for change, and that cacophony will become a crescendo, which may encourage the current ministers to be a bit braver."
Jamie Ross is a Scotland reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in Edinburgh.
Contact Jamie Ross at jamie.ross@buzzfeed.com.
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Terraferida Demands Investigation Into Freighter Docked On Posidonia
Terraferida has asked the Government to open an investigation after a large freighter was spotted in the waters of Formentor, which is an area known for posidonia. But the Conselleria says no sanctions will be imposed on the The Lucky Joy ship which was en-route to Italy when stormy weather forced the captain to take refuge.