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Minerva 2011, The Honors College Dec 2011

Minerva 2011, The Honors College

Minerva

This issue of Minerva includes an article on four newly-hired Honors preceptors, Rob Glover, Sarah Harlan-Haughey, Jordan LaBouff, and Justin Martin; a feature on Honors award, scholarship, and fellowship winners; and an article on the Honors College collaboration with the IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Infrastructure (INBRE) National Genomics Research Initiative.


It’S Growing Season For Maine’S Food System, Deborah Felder Jan 2011

It’S Growing Season For Maine’S Food System, Deborah Felder

Maine Policy Review

In the introduction to this special issue, guest editor Deb Felder lays out the elements of a sustainable food system. She notes that the increased interest in more ecologically sustainable, safe, humane, and economical community-supported food systems has “put Maine in the forefront of the food movement.”


Bringing Local Foods To The Farm Bill, Chellie Pingree Jan 2011

Bringing Local Foods To The Farm Bill, Chellie Pingree

Maine Policy Review

U.S. House Representative Chellie Pingree addresses the importance of revising the Federal Farm Bill to provide greater support to small, local farms if Maine and the nation are to have a sustainable food system..


An Abundant Food System, Russell Libby Jan 2011

An Abundant Food System, Russell Libby

Maine Policy Review

Russell Libby imagines what an abundant food system would look like for Maine and what it would take to get there. His recommendations include expanding the production and financing base, encouraging year-round production systems, building up mid-sized markets, and integrating farms into the ecosystem


Maine’S Dairy Relief Program, Tim Drake Jan 2011

Maine’S Dairy Relief Program, Tim Drake

Maine Policy Review

This short article looks at Maine’s dairy-relief program, which is viewed as national model of good public policy that can save jobs, support traditional industry, and keep a critical link in our food system


Getting What We Pay For (And Other Unintended Consequences): An Overview Of Federal Agricultural Policy, Maryann Hayes Jan 2011

Getting What We Pay For (And Other Unintended Consequences): An Overview Of Federal Agricultural Policy, Maryann Hayes

Maine Policy Review

The reauthoriza­tion of the Federal Farm Bill in 2012 means that activity is heating up to reform U.S. agricultural, nutrition, and energy policy. Mary Ann Hayes provides an overview of the Farm Bill’s history, its intended and unintended consequences, and what can be hoped for in 2012.


Toward A Working- Waterfront Ethic: Preserving Access To Maine’S Coastal Economy, Heritage, And Local Seafood, Robert Snyder Jan 2011

Toward A Working- Waterfront Ethic: Preserving Access To Maine’S Coastal Economy, Heritage, And Local Seafood, Robert Snyder

Maine Policy Review

Maine has one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, one for which people are willing to pay a premium. But for Maine fisherman, the coast is how they access their liveli­hood. In 2002 only 25 miles of Maine’s 5,300-mile coastline supported working-waterfront access. This article discusses creative and innovative strategies to preserve Maine’s working waterfront, including current-use taxation, purchase of development rights, and community-supported fisheries (CSF).


Building A Sustainable Seafood System For Maine, Robin Alden Jan 2011

Building A Sustainable Seafood System For Maine, Robin Alden

Maine Policy Review

In this article, Robin Alden notes that Maine could have one of the premier marine food systems in the world. However, that means adequate steward­ship of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and diversifying the fishing industry beyond lobster by creating innovative public policy and a food system that supports community fishing.


Maine’S Food System: An Overview And Assessment, D. Robin Beck, Nikkilee Carleton, Hedda Steinhoff, Daniel Wallace, Mark Lapping Jan 2011

Maine’S Food System: An Overview And Assessment, D. Robin Beck, Nikkilee Carleton, Hedda Steinhoff, Daniel Wallace, Mark Lapping

Maine Policy Review

From an agrarian and seafaring past, Maine’s food system has seen profound changes over the past two centuries. Grain, milk, livestock, fish, potatoes, vegetables and fruits used to come from small, family farms. Today, most people in Maine don’t know where their food comes from. Many are dependent on federal, state and local “emergency food systems” such as food stamps, food pantries, and childhood nutrition programs. Food-processing facilities, distribution systems, and value-added products are in short supply. Nevertheless, Maine has a diversity and abundance of food prod­ucts. In this article, the authors provide a historical overview and current analysis of …


Economic Impact Of Organic Farming In Maine, Jed Beach Jan 2011

Economic Impact Of Organic Farming In Maine, Jed Beach

Maine Policy Review

Maine’s organic farm sector is growing, and as described in this article, is contributing to the state’s economy and communities in many positive ways.


Poor Nutrition Amidst Plenty, Dora Anne Mills Jan 2011

Poor Nutrition Amidst Plenty, Dora Anne Mills

Maine Policy Review

Hunger and food insecurity is on the rise in Maine as are increases in obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, all linked to food choices. Old and young, immigrant and native, rural and urban—Mainers are experiencing a food emergency made graver by the economic recession and rising health costs. Dora Anne Mills writes about “poor nutrition amidst plenty,” its causes, consequences, and the programs and policies that address it


Healthy Food Access And Affordability: “We Can Pay The Farmer Or We Can Pay The Hospital", Gus Schumacher, Michel Nischan, Daniel Bowman Simon Jan 2011

Healthy Food Access And Affordability: “We Can Pay The Farmer Or We Can Pay The Hospital", Gus Schumacher, Michel Nischan, Daniel Bowman Simon

Maine Policy Review

The authors provide a history and overview of Federal food assistance efforts, especially food supplement programs, and the policy implications for Maine and national nutrition-incentive programs. They present a profile of the work of Wholesome Wave which aims to increase affordability and access to locally-grown food.


Hunger In Maine, Donna Yellen, Mark Swann, Elena Schmidt Jan 2011

Hunger In Maine, Donna Yellen, Mark Swann, Elena Schmidt

Maine Policy Review

Hunger and food insecurity is on the rise in Maine. Mainers are experiencing a food emergency made graver by the economic recession and rising health costs. The authors of this article discuss hunger in Maine, focusing on private efforts to alleviate it.


Farms And The Working Landscape, John Piotti Jan 2011

Farms And The Working Landscape, John Piotti

Maine Policy Review

After years of losing farms and farmers, Maine is seeing an increase in the number of acres being farmed, due partly to a resurgence of interest in farming and new tools that help preserve working landscapes. These tools include agricul­tural easements such as those offered by the Land for Maine’s Future, the Buy/Protect/Sell program at Maine Farmland Trust, local ordinances, and several federal programs


Local Food For Lewiston: Exploring The Role Of Food Assessment As Part Of Broader Work In Community-Engaged Food Systems, Kirsten Walter Jan 2011

Local Food For Lewiston: Exploring The Role Of Food Assessment As Part Of Broader Work In Community-Engaged Food Systems, Kirsten Walter

Maine Policy Review

Kirsten Walter’s case study discusses the community food assessment in Lewiston, Maine and the recommendations stemming from it.


Historical Perspectives On Resource Use In Food Systems, John Jemison, Amanda Beal Jan 2011

Historical Perspectives On Resource Use In Food Systems, John Jemison, Amanda Beal

Maine Policy Review

No one would deny that industrial agriculture and fishing have been highly productive—but at what cost? This article explores the historical development and contemporary impact of food production on the environment, availability of water and other resources, energy, food safety, and even our waistlines


By Land And By Sea, Amanda Beal Jan 2011

By Land And By Sea, Amanda Beal

Maine Policy Review

This short article discusses the results of the By Land and By Sea project, in which Maine fishermen and farmers came together to discuss common concerns and to forge new solutions aimed at re-envisioning a unified food system.


Resource, Environment And Energy Considerations For Maine Food Security In 2050 And Beyond, Amanda Beal, John Jemison Jan 2011

Resource, Environment And Energy Considerations For Maine Food Security In 2050 And Beyond, Amanda Beal, John Jemison

Maine Policy Review

This article discusses some of the expensive “externalities” produced by industrial agriculture and fishing. These include impaired watershed quality, soil degradation, pollution, reduction in biodiversity, and impacts on human health. The article also includes a discussion of transgenic crops and how these relate to sustainable agriculture


Adrift In A Sea Of Information About Sustainable Seafood: The Maine Consumer Perspective, Catherine V. Schmitt Jan 2011

Adrift In A Sea Of Information About Sustainable Seafood: The Maine Consumer Perspective, Catherine V. Schmitt

Maine Policy Review

The desire for a sustainable seafood industry that protects the environment and the future of fishing is certainly of interest to consumers, but even here there are conflicting standards, as Catherine Schmitt explores in this article.


Meat And Poultry Processing, Henrietta Beaufait Jan 2011

Meat And Poultry Processing, Henrietta Beaufait

Maine Policy Review

This article discusses Maine meat and poultry processing and the need for increased safety inspection capacity to allow this important food sector to continue to grow.


Education On Food, Fisheries And Agriculture, Molly Anderson Jan 2011

Education On Food, Fisheries And Agriculture, Molly Anderson

Maine Policy Review

This article describes the important role of education in helping the growing workforce in food-related industries, as well as the general population. The author notes that education in Maine about food, fisheries, and agri­culture is provided in a wide variety of venues: formal degrees at colleges and universities; Cooperative Extension; farm-to-school programs; the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA); and even educational farms. A sidebar by John Rebar discusses the work of University of Maine Cooperative Extension.


Challenges To Food Access Among Lewiston’S African Immigrants, Michelle Vasquez Jacobus, Reza Jalali Jan 2011

Challenges To Food Access Among Lewiston’S African Immigrants, Michelle Vasquez Jacobus, Reza Jalali

Maine Policy Review

Michelle Vasquez Jacobus and Reza Jelali present a case study of challenges to food access among African immigrants in Lewiston, Maine


Local And Regional Food Systems: A Usda Priority, Virginia Manuel Jan 2011

Local And Regional Food Systems: A Usda Priority, Virginia Manuel

Maine Policy Review

Virginia Manuel gives examples of innovative Maine food production, distribution and processing projects and businesses and the ways USDA rural development is financing them.


Farm To School, Amy Winston Jan 2011

Farm To School, Amy Winston

Maine Policy Review

Farm to school programs aim to link institutional purchasing to local food producers. This article describes how these programs in Maine have the potential to not only benefit food producers and communities economically but also to improve the health of schoolchildren and to reduce the carbon footprint of food production.


Kitchen Gardens: From The White House To Your House, Jean English, Douglas Fox Jan 2011

Kitchen Gardens: From The White House To Your House, Jean English, Douglas Fox

Maine Policy Review

This short article discusses how having small “kitchen gardens” can reduce fossil inputs, keep food and energy dollars in local communities, and add resilience for individuals and local economies in the face of economic downturns.


Food Safety, Alfred A. Bushway, Beth Calder, Jason Bolton Jan 2011

Food Safety, Alfred A. Bushway, Beth Calder, Jason Bolton

Maine Policy Review

The authors describe the importance of food safety regulations and practices in this era of global food systems and illustrate some of the challenges facing Maine’s small food producers and processors.


Unity Food Hub: Creating New Opportunities For Local Farms, Michael Gold Jan 2011

Unity Food Hub: Creating New Opportunities For Local Farms, Michael Gold

Maine Policy Review

Unity, Maine, as described in this case study, has grown into a “food hub,” as defined by the USDA. With support from the Maine Farmland Trust, a number of local development options are being explored.


Franklin County: Agriculture As A “Sleeping Giant”, Tanya Swain Jan 2011

Franklin County: Agriculture As A “Sleeping Giant”, Tanya Swain

Maine Policy Review

Franklin County, Maine was once a major farming area. This case study describes efforts underway to revive and grow agriculture in this rural area in the state’s western mountains