Certifications

Local Food Leader Certification

Local Food Leader (LFL) Certification teaches foundational competencies critical for successful food systems development. This certification is intended for practitioners that are beginning their work in food systems and individuals that are wanting to be more engaged in their local food system. Participants will build skills related to common language, equity in the food system, facilitating, creating plans of work, and evaluation of programs and projects.

Local Food Leader 101 is offered in person or virtually for individuals and community groups. Workshop sections include:

• Food systems common language

• Food systems equity

• Facilitation and leadership

• Creating plans of work

• Project and program evaluation

• Professional development

Participants will receive a certificate of completion in Local Food Leader 101 and are eligible to participate in Local Food Leader 201.

More information on Local Food Leader Certification

Resilient Food Systems Certification

Resilient Food Systems (RFS) Certification teaches a facilitated process to increase capacity for food systems practitioners developing resilience in their community food system. This certification is intended for educators, researchers, and practitioners facilitating coalitions interested in using this process as a community development tool. Participants will build skills for integrating strategic planning strategies to develop vision, mission, and values; assess existing conditions; determine priority projects; and work toward implementing programs. 

This curriculum is currently being developed. Please check back soon. 

Community Food Systems Certification

A process based certification that increases capacity for food system practitioners to work in and develop food systems. It teaches a needed framework for food systems development that walks through a three year process that started in Iowa in 2014. This certification is unique because it both focuses on collective decision making and strategic planning methods, as well as unique opportunities to tie in technical assistance such as economic impact analysis, feasibility studies, and design thinking. This is relevant because food systems are dynamic and unique. This certification will equip participants in various different skill sets and facilitation methods, as well as team building; participants will develop different strategies for decision-making, and will have the ability to bring projects from thinking to project implementation for reaching systems based goals. Here is a four-page overview of goals and curriculum of the Community Food Systems certification. The Community Food Systems Tactic Checklist is now available as well.

Community Food Systems Assessor Certification Syllabus
Community Food Systems Design Thinking Certification Syllabus
Community Food Systems Economic Impact Certification Syllabus
Community Food Systems Facilitator Certification Syllabus
Community Food Systems Feasibility Certification Syllabus
Community Food Systems Full Certification Syllabus

The Community Food Systems Program (CFSP) received funds from the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center to develop and pilot two national certification programs: Local Food Leader certification, and Community Food Systems certification. Additionally, they have created a Mapping 101 certification as well. A Pilot program evaluation report was created, as well as individual evaluation reports for the Local Food Leader workshops and the Community Food Systems workshops.

• Mapping 101:  a curriculum that includes unique input models to garner feedback, comprehensive reports utilizing qualitative and quantitative information, and resources to find necessary data for decision making on multiple scales from business development, organizational work and community food systems assessments. This certification is appropriate for individuals interested in understanding how to create maps for decision making and building new skills in QGIS for data and map development.

          Mapping 101 Certification Syllabus