ISU Extension and Outreach - Food Systems Certifications Now Offered Online; Register Now!

​Register now: ISU online food systems certifications begin in September
Limited scholarships available, apply by August 21

Strong and healthy local food systems are more important than ever for communities during the ongoing pandemic. The Community Food Systems team at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers timely support, now offering its Local Food Leader and Community Food Systems trainings and certifications in a virtual format. Each certification includes cohort workshops hosted through Zoom and online curricula through Moodle.

Beginning in September, these four popular professional development opportunities for food systems practitioners will be available online. Limited scholarships are available for each course. Applications for scholarships are due August 21.
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1.  The Virtual Local Food Leader Certification is an integrated program of online workshops and Local Food Leader online modules. This certification program takes four months. Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion in Local Food Leader. Cost is $375. This fall’s course begins September 1, 2020 and ends January 5, 2021. Participants will learn foundational competencies critical for successful food systems development, through integrated virtual workshops and four online modules. These include equity in food systems, working in food systems, facilitation and coordination, evaluation and professional development.

2.  The Virtual Community Food Systems Full Certification is an integrated program of online workshops and Community Food System online modules. This certification program takes eight months. Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion in Community Food Systems. Cost is $600. This year’s course begins September 15, 2020 and ends March 23, 2021. Participants will increase their capacity to work within community and develop food systems. The virtual workshops walk through strategic planning methods and practices for working with place-based communities on food systems development and includes visioning, research and community food systems assessments, prioritizing and project management, design and evaluation.

3. The Virtual Community Food Systems Facilitator Certification is an integrated program of online workshops and Community Food System Facilitator online modules. This certification program takes six months. Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion in Community Food Systems Facilitator Certification. Cost is $425. The virtual workshops walk through strategic planning methods and facilitation practices for working with place-based communities on food systems development learn the facilitation components of the Community Food Systems process within Phase 1 and Phase 2.

4.  The Virtual Community Food Systems Assessor Certification is an integrated program of online workshops and Community Food System Assessor online modules. This certification program takes four months. Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion in Community Food Systems Assessor Certification. Cost is $325. The virtual workshops center around activities for research and evaluation including community food systems assessments and prioritization for the assessor components of the Community Food Systems process within Phase 1.

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See more information about each course, including schedules, registration, and scholarship application links, at this link. Questions? Contact Kaley Hohenshell at kaleyh@iastate.edu.