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Economic Competitiveness <br />Council Role <br />• Support agriculture as a primary long-term use to protect the region's agricultural <br />economy, to provide economic opportunities for farmers, and to promote local food <br />production. <br />• Support connections between the Agricultural areas and other areas within and outside <br />the region that promote local agribusiness, promote safe travel, and ensure efficient <br />distribution of freight. <br />• Promote the use of the Green Acres and Agricultural Preserves programs to preserve <br />prime agricultural soils and maintain agricultural uses as a long-term primary land use. <br />Community Role <br />• Support agricultural uses as primary long-term land uses and consider allowing <br />agricultural -supportive land uses in local comprehensive plans. <br />• Consider opportunities for smaller -acreage agricultural operations to support food <br />production for local markets. <br />• Implement programs and best management practices that conserve and enhance soil <br />and water resources to ensure their long-term quality and productivity. <br />• Identify and protect locally important agricultural areas, in addition to prime agricultural <br />lands, to provide a range of economic opportunities. <br />Building in Resilience <br />Council Role <br />• Partner with state agencies to identify potential impacts to (agricultural) systems and <br />economies resulting from increased occurrences of extreme weather events. <br />• Collaborate with regional experts on climate change to identify and communicate <br />potential adaptation and mitigation measures to reduce impacts and preserve and protect <br />the region's agricultural resources. <br />• Provide resources and information on carbon emission reductions, best practices, and <br />climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies for Agricultural Areas. <br />Community Role <br />• Assess potential challenges and opportunities of climate change in the Agricultural <br />communities as well as opportunities for reducing the generation of greenhouse gas <br />emissions. Implement changes as feasible. <br />DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT <br />Last revised: February 21, 2014 116 <br />