As an ardent vegetable gardener who raises and preserves much of our own food, we've been writing for years about the need to craft sound policy for pollinators, which help produce much of what people eat. We're all stakeholders in the health of our state's pollinator population.
With the decline of bees and other pollinators, we're always on the lookout for discussions about pollinator best practices and chances for our readers to participate in the exploration of policy. Thus, we're pleased to find news of (and a chance to register for) the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Pollinators Summit on Friday, February 12, 8:00 am--4:30 p.m., at the Wellstone Center in St. Paul.
With pollinator policy still a hot topic in the Minnesota legislature, we urge concerned readers to get to this day-long event, which is free and open to the public, since policy frameworks are often drafted in these sorts of informal events or by task forces before lawmakers formally convene. Likewise, agency personnel might not hear from concerned citizens unless an event like this is open to the public.
It is a day-long commitment, however, and so registration shouldn't be taken lightly, especially since space is limited. Come prepared to work.
The event is co-hosted by the Environmental Initiative, which has posted a link to information about the event under its Our Work/Environmental Policy drop down menu. Here's the post:
Pollinators are an irreplaceable public resource. Insect pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, wasps, flies, and beetles, are critical for the pollination and production of crops and the health of native flora and landscapes. Some are especially valued for their beauty and place in our culture, like the monarch butterfly and the honeybee.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is convening the full spectrum of Minnesota’s insect pollinator experts and interested stakeholders—from beekeepers to landscapers to farmers—for a day of collaboration to identify solutions that will protect and support Minnesota’s insect pollinators. The goal of this summit is to identify challenges and propose broadly-supported solutions, particularly strategies that could be implemented by state agencies in the near term.
Participants should come prepared to discuss current efforts and offer specific policy and program ideas that will protect and support Minnesota’s insect pollinators. This summit, and its associated outcomes, will better position our community and state agencies to implement strategies that will reverse the decline of our insect pollinators, both domesticated and wild. [emphasis added]
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Due to limited space and a desire to accommodate and engage the greatest possible range of interests and perspectives, we ask that organizations limit their attendance to no more than two individuals. Register »
Contact Greg Bohrer at 612-334-3388 ext. 111 with comments or questions.
Environmental Initiative is working on behalf of Minnesota Department of Agriculture to convene this summit. Per our contract with the State and Minnesota Statutes 13.04, Enviornmental Initiative will provide the names and contact information for all individuals participating in the summit to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Here's a screengrab of the page:
The agenda is embedded below. The event is free and open to the public, as the Environmental Initiative notes, and we encourage all people who hope to learn and craft meaningful pollinator policy to register ASAP. Space is limited, and so only two people per organization. The agenda:
MN Department of Ag/ Environmental Initiative Pollinators Summit Agenda
The Environmental Initiative describes itself as:
a nonprofit organization that builds partnerships to develop collaborative solutions to Minnesota's environmental problems. The organization:
- Plans and hosts events for environmental leaders from businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies to share information, network, and learn from one another.
- Facilitates environmental policy conversations between diverse stakeholders.
- Takes action and implements on the ground environmental projects to improve our air, land, and water.
As a catalyst, convener, or implementer, Environmental Initiative develops creative solutions to environmental problems with our partners.
Among those listed on the group's Members and Sponsors page are Flint Hills Resources, Great River Energy, Xcel Energy, Aveda, Barr Engineering, Otter Tail Power, Enbridge, Minnesota Environmental Partnership, Tiller Corporation, Polymet Mining, Minnesota Agri-Growth Council, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, The Nature Conservancy, University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment and the Sustainable Farming Association. Check out the full list here.
Photo: A pollinator on a wild aster, via the Environmental Initiative page about the summit. It's great that the public is invited to this event, since we are all stakeholders in food. We have registered and urge all who are interested in pollinator policy to register ASAP (above); Screengrab of the page inviting the public (below).
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