San Diego Food System Alliance
San Diego County sits at the meeting point of productive farmland, coastal fisheries, and one of the largest metropolitan regions in the United States. Farms and fishing communities operate alongside dense urban neighborhoods, linking rural landscapes and coastal waters to the daily life of more than three million residents.
Despite this proximity, the systems that grow and distribute food across the region have become increasingly fragile. Independent farmers and fishermen face rising costs and limited market access, while many communities experience uneven access to fresh, locally produced food. At the same time, agricultural land and working waterfronts face growing development pressure.
San Diego Food System Alliance Background
Founded in 2012, the San Diego Food System Alliance brings together producers, community organizations, and public leaders working to strengthen the region’s food economy. Through initiatives such as the countywide Food Vision 2030 framework, the Alliance helps coordinate long-term strategies that support local production and reconnect communities with the landscapes and waters that sustain them.
Context & Significance
The San Diego Food System Alliance works to strengthen the relationships that sustain the region’s food system—from farms and fisheries to local markets and community tables. By connecting producers, organizations, and public institutions, the Alliance helps coordinate efforts that support local food production and improve how food moves across the county.
This work helps sustain the people and places that make regional food possible. Farms, fishing communities, and small food businesses form the backbone of a local food economy that contributes to environmental stewardship, economic stability, and community health.
The significance of this work extends beyond San Diego. Regional food systems shape how land and coastal resources are stewarded and how communities respond to climate and supply disruptions. Strengthening these networks helps preserve the knowledge, livelihoods, and landscapes that sustain food production for future generations.
The Opportunity
GLRF has been asked to assist SDFSA and their constituents in the development of a land conservation program capable of holding and stewarding conservation easements that protect valuable farmland. This is essential to giving farmers in San Diego the opportunity to own farmland themselves as well as ensuring that a valuable source of locally grown food is still available to the residents of San Diego County.
CURRENT STATUS
The process is just getting underway in the spring of 2026 and will continue throughout the year.
CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION
Steve Hobbs
Executive Director
Global Land Restoration Fund
Em: s.hobbs@globallandrestoration.org
Ph: +1 (651) 249-1389