Arizona Food Security Dividend

---

Vision:
Arizona will feed itself. The Food Security Dividend ends our dependence on out-of-state and foreign food systems by investing directly in Arizona farms, processing, and families — turning local food sovereignty into shared prosperity.

The Problem:
Arizona imports more than 90% of its food despite vast agricultural capacity and year-round sun. Global disruptions, drought, and federal mismanagement threaten our food supply and cost Arizonans billions. We can’t call ourselves free if we can’t feed ourselves.

The Plan:
The Arizona Food Security Trust (AFST) will channel public investment into local food production, processing, and distribution — and pay Arizonans a Food Security Dividend funded by the value we keep inside our borders.

Four Pillars of the Plan

1. Nutritional Sovereignty Dividend – Reward communities as Arizona replaces imported foods with local production. Profits from state-backed farms and processors flow into monthly grocery stipends for households.
2. Agricultural Co-Ownership – Citizens co-own regional food cooperatives and controlled-environment farms. As they profit, so do the taxpayers who funded them.
3. Resilience Credit System – Farmers and households earn credits for composting, efficient irrigation, rooftop gardens, and regenerative practices — redeemable as tax breaks or grocery vouchers.
4. Nutritional Guarantee Fund – Community produce hubs bring fresh, low-cost food into every Arizona neighborhood, especially in food deserts.

Financing:
Seeded with $100 million in state resilience bonds and matched federal funds. Long-term revenue comes from AFST-owned processing hubs, wholesale contracts with schools and hospitals, and local co-op profits — not new taxes.

Water-Smart by Design:
All AFST projects use closed-loop, water-efficient technologies such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and effluent reuse. Water security and food security advance together.

Governance:
A new Food Security Authority (FSAz) will oversee the AFST, with guaranteed seats for tribal nations, small farmers, and community cooperatives.

Immediate Steps:

• Establish AFST and FSAz by executive order.
• Fund two pilot hubs: one in Maricopa (CEA agriculture) and one in Yuma/Pinal (processing & cold storage).
• Launch emergency grocery vouchers for food-insecure families.
• Begin issuing Food Security Credits to small farms adopting water-saving technology.
• Hold a statewide summit with tribal leaders, farmers, universities, and food banks to finalize rollout.

Outcome:
Jobs for Arizonans. Food grown by Arizonans. Wealth kept in Arizona. A future where no global crisis can starve or exploit this state again.