Kansas Department of Agriculture Receives $6.46 Million to Strengthen Local Food Systems

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) has earned a large cooperative agreement from the USDA's Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) programme for $6.46 million. This financing is intended to promote local and regional food systems by providing additional revenue streams for Kansas farmers.

The funds will support various aspects of the food supply chain, including aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesaling, and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products, excluding meat and poultry.

KDA will be working alongside the USDA to provide competitive sub-award infrastructure grants to Kansas food and farm businesses, as well as other eligible entities like nonprofit organizations, local government entities, tribal governments, schools, and hospitals. The goal is to enhance the infrastructure and capabilities of these entities, fostering the growth and development of local and regional food production.

To ensure the funding priorities align with the needs of the community, KDA is actively seeking feedback from interested parties. Two listening meetings are planned for July 6, 2023, where stakeholders can provide feedback. For individuals who are unable to attend the meetings, an online public feedback form is accessible.

For more information or to provide feedback, interested individuals can contact Brittney Grother, the KDA grants coordinator, at Brittney.Grother@ks.gov or 785-564-6797.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture envisions creating an ideal environment for sustainable agricultural prosperity and statewide economic growth. By advocating for various sectors within the industry and providing industry outreach, KDA aims to support the long-term success of Kansas agriculture.

This cooperative agreement and funding from the RFSI program are expected to play a crucial role in strengthening local food systems, supporting Kansas producers, and building a more resilient agricultural infrastructure. The investment will help create opportunities for growth, enhance the capacity of food and farm businesses, and contribute to the overall prosperity of the state's agricultural sector.

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