The Pasture Project is working on multi-tier engagement in Illinois and Indiana:
Strategic network development and capacity building. The Pasture Project is working with a broad range of stakeholders in agriculture in Illinois to identify strategic priorities for expanding regenerative grazing in the state. Thus far, the team has conducted interviews, written a white paper on the findings and analysis from those interviews, and held an in-person strategy meeting in the fall of 2019.
Farmer-to-farmer network outreach and leadership development. The Pasture Project identified two current and emerging Illinois farmer-to-farmer networks and will assist them with capacity building and leadership development to help support the transition to regenerative grazing practices in the state.
Critical resource and tool development. Using in-house GIS expertise, the Pasture Project developed a watershed analysis tool for Indiana and Illinois.
Value chain mapping. In 2019, the Pasture Project and the Delta Institute conducted research to understand current grass-fed beef production, processing and end-markets in Illinois. Phase Two of this work will leverage the knowledge of regenerative grazing and grass-fed value chains in Illinois to engage stakeholders in one priority watershed to build localized momentum for regional change.