What is a Food Policy Council?
- Food Policy Councils are composed of individuals from many different professional backgrounds such as government, business, and non profit that represent all parts of the food system: production; manufacturing; distribution; consumption; and waste management.
- Although the first Food Policy Council in the nation was created and implemented twenty-five years ago in Knoxville, the structures, practices, and policies of Food Policy Councils are still evolving. [1]
- Food Policy Councils inform policy in order to create a more sustainable food system through research, education, and advocacy which promotes,
- Food security for neighborhoods with inadequate access to fresh produce;
- Economic development through local food sector entrepreneurship; and
- Social justice.
- To achieve this objective, Food Policy Councils,
- Serve as forums for discussing food issues; Foster coordination between sectors in the food system;
- Evaluate and influence policy; and,
- Launch and/or support programs and services that address local needs.[2]
- Food Policy Councils may take many forms, but are typically either commissioned by state or local government or predominately a grassroots effort. [3]
What is the Memphis and Shelby County Food Policy Council Working Group?
- Public policy is perhaps the most important factor that shapes our food system. Just like many other regions across the country, the Memphis and Shelby County food system is not well coordinated. Our food system is of critical importance: in the city of Memphis, 34% of adults and 16% of high school students are obese.
- The goal of the Working Group is to develop a Memphis and Shelby County Food Policy Council by 2012 that will inform policy in order to create a more sustainable food system.[4]
- Specially, the FPC Working Group will:
- Assess the current food environment by surveying food system stakeholders and compiling existing research;
- Research relevant models to inform the creation of a local council; and,
- Engage and strategic and financial planning for an effective and robust council.
- The Food Policy Council Initiative has received support from the Healthy Eating, Active Living Initiative of the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis in partnership with the Assisi Foundation, Plough Foundation and the United Way of the Mid-South, through the Convergence Partnership Fund of the Tides Foundation over the next two years.
[1] Winne, Mark. "The Community Food Security Coalition's North American Food Policy Council Webpage." North American Food Policy Council. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jun 2010. www.foodsecurity.org/FPC/index.html.
[2] Alkon , Alison, Althea Harper, Holt-Gimenez, Frances Lambrick, and Annie Shattuck. "Food Policy Councils: Lessons Learned." Food First . Institute for Food and Development Policy, 2009. Web. 30 Jun 2010. www.foodfirst.org/files/pdf/Food%20Policy%20Councils%20Report%20small.pdf>.
[3] Winne
[4] Winne
