| Improving
Nutrition from the Farm Gate to the Food Plate
The Kansas Food Industry Roundtable is a project created through
a grant from the Kansas Health and Nutrition Fund to the Kansas
Dairy Association. The purpose of this project is to bring
together representatives from the many organizations and companies
involved in the food industry in Kansas and to identify ways
to work together to improve the nutritional quality of the
food we provide to consumers.
There are many ways farm producers and those involved in
bringing their products from the farm gate to the food plate
could work together to provide a more nutritious, wholesome
product for the consumer. Yet those from the various segments
of the food chain rarely communicate or coordinate their efforts,
except on an ad hoc basis. Such communication is needed for
the identification of consumer desires for food products and
nutritional needs, and the sharing of information about the
type of commodity product needed for its end food use.
The purposes of this project include opening lines of communication
among the various segments of the food industry, identifying
specific actions that can be taken, and communicating those
to food producers, processors, scientists, educators and others
who have a role in bringing healthy, nutritious food to the
consumer. A Food Industry Roundtable will be established to
bring together representatives of all those in Kansas with
roles in bringing a nutritious food from the farm gate to
the food plate. The Roundtable will identify initiatives for
producing more nutritious foods and communicate those initiatives
to those who can put them into action.
For instance, wheat breeders develop varieties of wheat,
and wheat farmers grow wheat and deliver it to the elevator.
The elevator sells it to the mill. It is processed into bread.
There are wheat seed varieties that produce a more nutritious
bread product (such as higher in protein content) or that
is more appealing to the consumer or that have better milling
qualities. There are production practices that can enhance
nutritional value. In the dairy industry, feed quality (what
the dairyman chooses or can obtain) directly affects the nutritional
value of the milk. Yet we never bring together consumers,
scientists, farmers, food processors, and food marketers to
work together toward the end goal of providing a nutritious
product the consumer wants.
The Kansas Food Industry Roundtable is an effort to determine
ways of bringing more nutritious foods to the consumer through
cooperation between farm producers and other segments of the
food industry, through dialogue between the various segments
of the industry.
KFIR Honorary Co-Chairs
Senator Sam Brownback
Senator Pat Roberts
Congressman Jerry Moran
Congressman Jim Ryun
Congressman Dennis Moore
Congressman Todd Tiahrt
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