< back to About homepage

Principles—Core beliefs that guide MIFFS actions and serve as a way to test decisions.

Externally Directed Principles

• We value all peoples’ right to healthy, nutritious, and available food.
• We value people and community, encouraging local and grassroots efforts.
• We encourage the synergism created by individual strengths working together.
• We foster collaboration and partnership across the breadth and depth of our food and agricultural system and search to create win-win opportunities.
• We believe that agricultural productivity, profitability, and environmental stewardship can co-exist for the benefit of Michigan’s rural and urban communities.
• We value the integrity of ecosystems, building on processes and relationships that reduce adverse environmental impact and enhance productivity.
• We value what learning, experience, scientific inquiry, and other sources of knowledge teach us.
• We value our connection to other sustainable agriculture supporters.
• We appreciate the importance of MIFFS unique identity.
• We strive to build on and compliment the knowledge and efforts of others.

Internally Directed Principles

• We embrace diversity and see differences as strengths.
• We value and support one another in risk-taking and innovation.
• We are adaptive and flexible, applying what we learn.
• We practice shared leadership and shared decision making.
• We recognize that most problems have more than one solution.
• We share what we learn to help people make policies and decisions.