from the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
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Meat-to-institution succeeds in New Mexico
During a novel Meat Pilot Program, New Mexico-based meat operations sold high-quality meat products to a range of institutions, improving food security and diet quality among priority populations. |
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JAFSCD peer-reviewed article by Kathryn E. Coakley (University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center), Acadia W. Buro (University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center), Caitlyn Sandoval (University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center), Bryan Crawford-Garrett (New Mexico Farmers’ Marketing Association), and Francisco Soto Mas (University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center).
The state of New Mexico prioritizes local food systems as part of its strong agricultural economy and values. New Mexico Grown, the state’s primary local food procurement program, connects local food producers to schools, early childhood and senior centers, and food banks that serve priority populations. In 2023, meat products were introduced to New Mexico Grown through the Meat Pilot Program.
In a new JAFSCD article, Farm-to-institution in the Southwest: An evaluation of the New Mexico Grown Meat Pilot Program, authors Kathryn Coakley, Acadia Buro, Caitlyn Sandoval, Bryan Crawford-Garrett, and Francisco Soto Mas present findings from an exploratory evaluation of the Meat Pilot Program including successes, barriers, and impacts from the perspective of producers, buyers, and stakeholders.
Corresponding author Kathryn Coakley can be contacted at kecoakley@salud.unm.edu. KEY FINDINGS
During the Meat Pilot Program, 28 meat suppliers across the state of New Mexico sold beef, pork, lamb/mutton, and bison to more than 100 kindergarten-to-12th-grade (K-12) schools, early childhood and senior centers, and food banks.
As one of the first local meat-to-institution programs in the nation, the Meat Pilot Program provided an important opportunity for producers to expand local markets, connect with buyers, and impact food security and the economy.
100% of buyer and supplier evaluation participants indicated that they would participate in the program in the future. From buyers’ perspectives, the Meat Pilot Program improved food security and diet quality among the populations served.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE, AND RESEARCH Meat-to-institution initiatives should: provide comprehensive information about participating suppliers (vendor location, delivery information, product details, capacity) to buyers;
organize events to connect suppliers and buyers and ensure that buyers understand the nuances of local meat purchasing;
utilize marketing and outreach strategies to recruit eligible suppliers, particularly among socially disadvantaged, small-scale, and rural producers;
ensure culturally relevant options are offered; and collect and share participation and purchasing data to further the evidence on the meat-to-institution supply chain.
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Future research should evaluate short- and long-term health and economic impacts of meat-to-institution programs implemented in community and clinical settings.
Support and funding for farm- and meat-to-institution initiatives must be a local, state, and national priority.
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How is a new meat-to-institution initiative in New Mexico expanding producer opportunities and impacting community health? Read the full @JAFSCD article for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2025.144.015
Photo above: A Mora Independent School District meal features local meat sourced through the New Mexico Grown Meat Pilot Program. |
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Exploring the Bangladesh smallholder livestock sector through network analysis
JAFSCD peer-reviewed article by Christian Kelly Scott, Jennifer Himmelstein, and Jini Kades (all at ACDI/VOCA), and Arlinda Hajzeri (Politecnico de Milano) |
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Livestock production is a key livelihood strategy in rural Bangladesh, especially for smallholder farmers who often face barriers such as limited access to business services and markets. Increased livestock production is linked to improved household income, nutrition, and health outcomes. This study analyzes the USAID-funded Livestock Production for Improved Nutrition (LPIN) Activity, focusing on how livestock service providers’ (LSPs) access to business service providers—analyzed through networks—affects their performance..
Prior studies often focus on the number of service or assistance connections as opposed to the number of market actors that provide targeted business support. This has resulted in limited relevant sources for comparison and has overlooked factors that are crucial to sustainability and performance. This work seeks to address this research gap. This study was conducted in 2021 with the overarching goals of understanding how LPIN influenced LSPs’ networks, and making recommendations on how stakeholders may learn from LSP networks to enhance potential initiatives to benefit their economic capabilities. The article is entitled Exploring the Bangladesh smallholder livestock sector through network analysis: Insights, assessment results, and future directions.
Corresponding author Arlinda Hajzeri can be contacted at arlinda.hajzeri@polimi.it. KEY FINDINGS
97% of respondents indicated that their LSP was solely owned. For LSPs with multiple owners, if one of the owners is a female, the LSP is considered female-owned in the analysis.
Just 3% of the LSPs were owned by a female under the age of 29 (referred to as female youth-owned). The group (female/youth-owned) has been highlighted in the analysis due to the important role that entrepreneurial women play in the Bangladesh livestock sector.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY AND PRACTICE
Targeted analysis is merited to examine why differences exist between sectors. Perhaps there are certain characteristics for each type of business that impact how they interact with others in the livestock sector. Alternatively, there may be something about the people that are attracted to these sectors that influence how they construct their networks and conduct their business. A more gender-centric avenue of research is also needed to examine how these business success and network measures affect indicators of empowerment and, ultimately, aspects of everyday livelihood like poverty and food security. Future research would also benefit from including enhanced spatial and socioeconomic status analysis to further understand the nuances in the findings and improve future service delivery.
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Livestock production is a key livelihood strategy in rural Bangladesh, especially for smallholder farmers who often face barriers such as limited access to business services and markets. A new @JAFSCD article analyzes the #USAID-funded Livestock Production for Improved Nutrition Activity. Read the entire study for free at https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2025.144.009 #Bangladesh #LPIN #Gendergap #agriculture
Photo above: Figure 1. Sociogram display of all study LSP networks, from the article. |
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