The Center’s quarterly webinar series features innovative projects led by Center partners across Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. The webinar series provides attendees with the opportunity to learn more about the Center and partner-led initiatives related to business development and capacity assistance for local producers, farmers, and ranchers. The webinar series is free and open for all to attend.
Upcoming Webinars
Understanding Food System Vulnerabilities Through Simulation Modeling (January 15, 2026)
The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread disruptions to the U.S. and global economies, including labor shortages and food supply chain breakdowns that profoundly affected producers and consumers alike. In response, the Western Institute for Food Safety & Security (WIFSS) at UC Davis sought to better understand food system vulnerabilities in California and explore how simulation modeling could help anticipate and mitigate future disruptions.
This proof-of-concept project applied simulation modeling to assess the potential impacts of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1—a virus that devastated the poultry industry and has recently spread to dairy farms. The model focused on production, economic variability, and behavioral factors over time on a small dairy operation.
While limited in scope, this approach demonstrates how disease simulations can serve as powerful tools for evaluating and planning responses to outbreaks. Future expansion of this work could enable industry-wide assessments of production and economic impacts. Join us to learn how risk modeling can inform preparedness and strengthen the resilience of our food systems.
Join us to learn how risk modeling can inform preparedness and strengthen the resilience of our food systems.
Obtaining an Unique Entity ID (UEI) for Government Grant and Contract Opportunities (March 4, 2026)
As farm and food security become increasingly important to the southwest region’s long term resilience, farmers and food businesses may have opportunities to tap into government grants and contracts as a means to advance their operations and contribute to regional sustainability. This webinar is designed to equip those interested in applying for government grants and contracts with information on obtaining a Unique Entity ID (UEI); one of the first steps in getting started using Sam.gov.
Join us to learn more about how the UEI is used, and the steps to get started obtaining a UEI for your business.
Previous Webinars
Grant Writing for Small and Mid-Sized Farms and Food Businesses (September 3, 2025)
On September 3rd, 2025, the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center hosted a webinar focused on “Grant Writing for Small and Mid-Sized Farms and Food Businesses.” The webinar featured Center partners, Utah State University Extension and the Urban & Environmental Policy Institute at Occidental College.
With the goal to clarify the grant writing process, speakers provided insights throughout the grant writing process, from finding grant opportunities to the evaluation process. Additional topics presented include navigating and understanding grant requirements such as eligibility and purpose, grant components such as problem statement, timeline, and budget, and resources for necessary tax and business documentation, such as the Utah State University Rural Tax Education.
Solicitud de subvenciones a pequeñas y medianas operaciones agrícolas y empresas alimentarias (3 de septiembre de 2025)
El 3 de septiembre de 2025, El Centro Regional de Negocios Alimentarios del Suroeste del Depto. De Agricultura de los EE. UU. (USDA) organizó un seminario virtual sobre “Cómo Preparar Solicitudes de Programas de Fondos Económicos para Fincas de Pequeña y Mediana Escala y Negocios Alimentarios.” El seminario estuvo liderado por colaboradores del Centro Regional, El Programa de Extensión de la Universidad Estatal de Utah, y el Instituto de Política Ambiental y Urbana del Colegio Occidental.
Con el fin de explicar el proceso de preparación de solicitudes a programas de fondos económicos, los panelistas cubrieron información sobre todo el proceso; desde cómo buscar becas o programas de fondos económicos, hasta el proceso de evaluación. Otros temas que se cubrieron en el seminario virtual fueron: Cómo navegar y entender los requisitos de los programas de fondos económicos -como elegibilidad y propósito-, los distintos elementos de un programa de fondos económicos -como el resumen del problema, línea de tiempo y presupuesto-, y recursos como el “Programa sobre Educación Tributaria Rural de la Universidad Estatal de Utah” para ayudar a entender la documentación necesaria sobre el negocio, incluyendo los impuestos.
Food Hubs: Increasing Market Opportunities for Farmers, Ranchers, and Food Producers (July 16, 2025)
The Center’s quarterly webinar, “Food Hubs: Increasing Market Opportunities for Farmers, Ranchers, and Food Producers,” featured speakers from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (UC SAREP) and University of Nevada, Reno Extension (UNR Extension). Speakers presented on the development and planning process of food hubs, its impact in fulfilling market gaps, and collaborative learning through food hubs networks. These initiatives and programs include direct technical assistance and information sharing through the UC SAREP California Food Hub Network and Transition to Organic Partnership Program, community assessment research outcomes such as UNR Extension Healthy Food Access Map, and resource guides for Food Hubs, including the USDA Regional Food Hub Resource Guide and Michigan State University National Food Hub Survey.
Agriculture Technology for Small and Mid-Sized Farms (April 16th, 2024)
The Center’s quarterly webinar, “Agriculture Technologies for Small and Mid-Sized Farms,” featured speakers from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, Larta Institute, and Community Alliance with Family Farmers. Speakers provided insights to several initiatives related to the innovation of agriculture technology, such as the CAFF’s Small Farm Innovation Challenge, F3 Local’s Small Farm Alliance to Develop Appropriate Technology (SF-ADAPT) ecosystem, UCANR Innovate‘s Regional AgTech network and VINE Connect program, which provides innovation grants for entrepreneurs. Speakers also discussed technical assistance efforts to support technology implementation for farmers, such as Larta Institute’s government agency partnerships to deliver Commercialization Accelerator Programs (CAP) and Technical & Business Assistance (TABA), and projects to expand access to technology to farmers, such as CAFF’s Small-Farm Tech Hub and Small Farm Tech Expo.
Institutional Procurement: A Path Toward Food System Resilience (January 15th, 2024)
The Center’s quarterly webinar, “Institutional Procurement: A Path Toward Food System Resilience”, featured speakers from UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology, Health Care Without Harm, and Center for Good Food Purchasing. Speakers discussed their organizations role in the purchasing of local, sustainable foods in hospitals, universities, and other large institutional settings. Presentations focused on organizations’ role in implementing procurement criteria and scoring, such as Center for Good Food Purchasing Scoring System, addressing challenges through multi-stakeholder equitable collaboration with community partners, such as HCWH’s Anchors in Resilient Communities Initiative, and the importance of effective data tracking systems to provide institutions data as a value proposition.
Farm-to-School Partnerships: Expanding Market Opportunities for Farmers and Food Producers (October 16, 2024)
The Center’s quarterly webinar, “Farm-to-School Partnerships: Expanding Market Opportunities for Farmers and Food Producers,” featured speakers from Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, California Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), and USDA Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS). Speakers provided insights into farm to school programs and initiatives taking place across regional, state, and national levels. These programs and initiatives include Movement Building Workshops led by Utah Farm to Fork, to help interested farmers, ranchers, and producers connect to their region network and gain resources and training related to participating in farm to school; direct service assistance for procurement and statewide events such as the California Crunch Day from CAFF, who has been supporting and leading Farm to school programs for 20 years; and the USDA FNS Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program, which aims to assists child nutrition program operators incorporate local foods through grant funding, technical assistance, training, and more.
Leading with Equity: Tribal Food Sovereignty & Inclusive Engagement (July 17, 2024)
The Center’s first quarterly webinar, “Leading with Equity: Tribal Food Sovereignty & Inclusive Engagement,” featured speakers from Local First Arizona and California Department of Food and Agriculture. Speakers discussed best practices for incorporating Indigenous knowledge and highlighted the unintended consequences of policies and funding that do not consider Tribal interests or approaches. They suggested pathways to build communication, develop partnerships, and establish trust. Additionally, the speakers addressed the critical infrastructure needed for Tribal communities, such as new wells, aggregating and distributing facilities, food-to-market distribution, and technical assistance, including business and market development skills.