We spoke to Zack Wyatt, CEO of Carolina Farm Trust, about the work being done to restore nature, localize food systems and collaborate to build a more sustainable food supply chain.
Tell us a little about Carolina Farm Trust.
Carolina Farm Trust (CFT), based in Charlotte, N.C., is restoring the vital connections between agriculture, chefs, and consumers, and is developing the right private and public partnerships to localize food systems. By doing this, we can provide the pathways for any city region worldwide to regain control of their regional food system before there aren’t enough farmers, farmland, and regional agriculture to feed our growing population.
What are the barriers we need to overcome to create a more sustainable food supply chain?
Addressing the challenges of creating a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient shared regional food system requires collaboration among farmers, policymakers, businesses, and the public. It involves fostering a comprehensive understanding of the interconnected issues and developing solutions that balance economic viability, social equity, and environmental sustainability.
For example, we need to balance fair compensation for farmers, ensure affordability for low-income consumers, and provide decent wages for food system workers. This calls for innovative pricing models that consider the true cost of sustainable production.
Addressing racial and class bias in the community food system is imperative. Solutions involve fostering inclusivity, diverse representation, and dismantling systemic inequalities in shared community food systems.
We need to better understand agriculture’s connections to the planet and people, and we can do this by educating stakeholders on the importance of shared community food systems.
In addition, communicating the true cost of food raised through environmentally friendly methods is essential. In order to overcome buyer resistance, we must be transparent and explain the long-term benefits of supporting sustainable practices.
How is Carolina Farm Trust Making a Difference?
Carolina Farm Trust believes the solution is a comprehensive approach that creates a holistic strategy to address the various interconnected aspects of localizing a community food system, from production, distribution and consumption, to creating public-private partnerships and policy advocacy, which will significantly contribute to building a resilient and sustainable shared food system.
We are making a difference in Charlotte by shifting away from vulnerable and inequitable global food systems, and we’re strengthening local resilience, ensuring a more stable and secure food supply. We promote sustainable agriculture with an emphasis on managing local farms that utilize sustainable production practices that align with environmental conservation and long-term agricultural viability for growing city regions with a large agriculture base. CFT facilitates direct connections between farmers, consumers, and chefs through alternative markets, like the CFT market and distribution center opening this summer. We are improving access to adequate, affordable, and nutritious foods through local hubs and shorter supply chains to address food deserts and inequality issues, improving food freshness and supply chain transparency. Our work emphasizes public participation, public-private partnerships, policy work, and the principles and values associated with sustainability, equity, democracy, and self-reliance.
Why is the work to improve food systems important?
This is our way to make a better world. A shared regional food system that is inclusive, vibrant and resilient–where nutritious regional food is accessible and available–where farmers, chefs and consumers share a common vision for the future of agriculture–where governments, businesses and the public work together to facilitate it–and where food is grown, distributed and managed in a way that empowers communities worldwide to localize and invest in their shared regional food system and take back control of their regional food systems to protect the planet, create opportunities for economic wealth of communities and advances social equality.
