Dane County Food System Action Plan Project Newsletter | October 22, 2026

A Foundation of Collaboration

There’s a lot packed into the Dane County Food System Plan, so we’ll break it down — one goal at a time. Collaboration (Goal #1) provides a critical place to start and also lays an important foundation for the rest of the work ahead.

Dane County has a lot of organizations addressing food system needs, and doing great work in the community. A key way that this existing work can be strengthened is through increased collaboration between partners. This looks like more connection within food system sectors, as well as across multiple sectors. These connections can help link small actions together into larger impacts.

There are many existing food system collaborations that provide great examples for increasing partnerships. Check out the Foodshed Partnership, Dane County Food Collective, UW–Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS), Food Is Medicine (UW-Madison Family Medicine and Community Health), and Food Equity Access Simulation Technology (FEAST), just to name a few.

Continue reading to learn about the Collaboration strategies, and stay tuned next month for Goal #2: Production!

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Collaboration Strategies

These are the strategies under Goal 1: Collaboration. For a deeper dive, go to the website to see them further broken down into actions.

Align Food System Backbone Organizations
Connect Plans That Address or Relate to Food Systems Work
Align Food Systems Advocacy Efforts
Increase Focus on Food Systems Across Local Government
Increase Communication, Data-Sharing, and Education

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Where Do You See Collaboration Opportunities?

Are you connected with any organizations or groups that play a role in food system work that may not be widely known?

Let us know so that we can connect them into this effort!

Contact Us

Dane County Food System Action Plan Website

Help Move the Plan Into Action

Amplify the Dane County Food System Action Plan by sharing it with your networks, discussing it in your community spaces, and integrating its goals into your own organizational planning.

View the Plan

Bring the Plan to Your Community

Invite the Food System Action Plan team to present to your community group about the plan’s key findings, the 7 goals, and specific ways community groups can engage.

We look forward to collaborating with you and building a healthier, more resilient food system for Dane County.

University of Wisconsin, USDA, and Wisconsin counties cooperating.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.

La University of Wisconsin–Madison División de Extensión proporciona igualdad de oportunidades en el empleo y en sus programas, según lo que exige la ley federal y estatal.

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You may request an interpreter, materials in an alternative language or format, or other services to make Extension programs and resources more accessible by contacting our office at extension@danecounty.gov or 608-224-3700 at least 2 weeks prior. There's no added cost to you for these services.

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