Each year the Food/Agriculture Collaborative sets priorities that will show results as impacts on the Navajo Nation and Hopi.

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1. A Report on the Status of Food/Agriculture as an Impactful Economic Sector

• In 2021, we built upon reports done by the Dine’ Policy Institute with refreshed survey input and a review of active policy and agriculture-based operations. That report which is linked here suggested ways of building momentum toward a more robust Food economy. 

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2. A Food/Agriculture Collaborative 

• Emergence Group put a recommendation of the 2021 report into action and created a Collaborative representing the Food/Agriculture Value Chain on the Navajo Nation.   

• In July, 2022 we convened ten (10) Food/Agriculture focused producers, non-profits and government entities representing the Food/Agriculture Value Chain. Over the next several months, the group developed a Shared Vision. and a set of Priorities for the first year of work.  

• The projects below resulted from the Priorities of 2023 and 2024.​

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3. A Sustainable Infrastructure for Building Momentum across the Food Value Chain

• Selected producers have and are being identified who will Network and mentor small, but active producers with similar water, soil and Native cultural needs. Over three years they will develop into a Network of Lead Producers each from distinct BioRegions on Navajo and Hopi who will provide various learning and access opportunities. Five Dine’ and Hopi producers are beginning this work in
  2025.

 

A significant public communications component both among Leads and between Leads and small            producers will be developed. 

 

4. Addressing Needs of Established Producers

• Established producers have benefitted from targeted funding that has been
  utilized by select producers to support:

  • ​Cost of a nationally recognized grower training program

  • Partial costs for equipment.

  • Partial costs for infrastructure development.

• Big Water Foundation will become a 501 c3 non-profit organization this year and will begin providing grants for infrastructure to small growers.​​​​

       

The Collaborative is assisting them in developing data on the needs and capacities of Navajo and Hopi growers. This data collection will assist Big Water in targeting their potential grant recipient attributes and building a critical list of their needs. 

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5. Products to Address Knowledge Needs along the Food Value Chain

• Video on the Impact of Producers on the Navajo Nation. The Collaborative supported the development of a video showcasing modern Navajo producers sharing their stories of the contributions Native producers are having to the economy. Find the video on our UTube channel. How to access our channel.

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• Metrics that assess growth in food production by both Western and Native
  markers have been developed in collaboration with our producers. They are
  being piloted in upcoming projects and are available to review and pilot for your
  own use here.

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• A resource guide for Farmer’s Market development identifies steps to take for
  planning an initial pop up Farm stand to becoming an established Farmer’s
  Market.

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