Overview
The Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) program, administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) supports projects that foster cross-sector collaboration and connections between public and private resources for strategic planning that strengthens local and regional food systems. To assess how RFSP-funded projects have advanced these goals, Washington State University and the University of Idaho partnered with AMS to use Ripple Effects Mapping (REM) and online survey data to highlight impacts. REM shows impacts across the Community Capitals Framework, including social, human, financial, cultural, and political capital, illustrating how RFSP investments produce both direct outcomes and broader ripple effects through regional food systems. The project can be found at WSU Extension’s webpage and the links below.
The overarching finding of this study is that RFSP’s emphasis on partnerships and relationship-building, supported by program resources, was central to achieving project goals and broader social, financial, and skills-based outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- RFSP projects showcased the impact of interconnectivity – generating stronger collaboration, increasing resilience, expanding skills and leadership, leveraging networks to secure new funding, increasing economic innovation and new avenues for revenue, and celebrating food and culture in creative ways.
- REM findings indicate that each RFSP project’s success was strongly influenced by how participants designed and managed partnerships. The most successful projects prioritized building networks that elevated many voices rather than relying on a few organizations or leaders.
- Participants consistently emphasized the importance of the design of the RFSP program for success. The longer planning timelines gave organizations a rare opportunity to think strategically and design systems intentionally, rather than rushing to implementation.
Resources
Assessing the Impact of Partnerships to Improve Local and Regional Food Systems – Full Report (pdf)
RFSP Project Executive Summary (pdf)
Publication Date
August 2026