In addition to working to stop the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, Bold Iowa is equally concerned about the need to prepare Iowa communities to survive and thrive in the New Climate Era.
As the impacts of climate change worsen, food systems will be increasingly compromised. It’s essential that communities plan now for greater reliance on local sources of food production. This not only assures stability as climate change hits us harder, but it means jobs for farmers and producers, and healthier food for community residents.
With that in mind, partnering with Birds & Bees Urban Farm in the fall of 2020, Ed Fallon and Kathy Byrnes approached Des Moines City Council members about forming a task force to address this challenge. In December, 2020, council members voted unanimously to form the Des Moines Food Security Task Force.
Bold Iowa is interested in working with residents and community leaders in cities and counties across the state on similar initiatives to address the inevitable food-security challenges the climate emergency will bring.