We All Eat: Preparing for the Future Through Food

Abstract

The Matanuska-Susitna Valley (also known as "The Valley") is a rapidly-growing region in Southcentral Alaska, located about 35 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska's most populous city. The Valley is home to 30 diverse communities spanning a region the size of West Virginia. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough, its regional government, is updating its Comprehensive Plan for the first time in nearly twenty years. Due to changing weather patterns and climatic trends, the region is expected to become more suitable for agriculture, which could have positive implications for bolstering the food security of a state that depends on imports from the Lower 48. At the same time, the region is preparing for disasters to worsen and increase in frequency, threatening livelihoods, wildlife and wild foods, and property year-round.

This project proposes a framework for integrating food security in Borough plans and documents that support its vision of being the best community in Alaska to live, work, and play. The project assesses the food system and identifies pathways toward food security that 1) promote the health and general welfare of all borough residents, 2) support the sustainable development of its natural resources, and 3) secure safety from natural and manmade risks.

Through research, a 1000+ person survey, stakeholder interviews, and community meetings completed over the course of 8 months, results show an eagerness among Borough residents for their government to work toward disaster preparedness, adaptation, and resilience—especially as it pertains to food security. However, there are mixed opinions regarding the degree to which the government should play a role. This project proposes a framework by which the Matanuska-Susitna Borough can develop solutions on food security and disaster preparedness that encourage community resilience while acknowledging the region's historic character, shared values, and varying views on government.