what is a Food Policy Council?

Since 1982, over 300 FPCs have been established in the United States. FPCs are a proven model for identifying local food policy challenges and opportunities, coordinating city-wide food policy initiatives, and providing those most impacted by food inequality with an organized way to influence public policy within a designated region. Addressing the type of systemic change that is needed to make meaningful progress requires deep collaboration between, and expertise from, diverse sectors of the food system. As such, a FPC convenes multiple stakeholders—these might include farmers and urban gardeners, government agencies, nonprofits, schools and other institutional food settings, healthcare providers, small store owners and worker cooperatives, food systems philanthropic institutions, farmers markets, and community members.

FPCs also take many structures—some are embedded directly in local government, others operate as independent nonprofits, or as a coalition sponsored by another organization. FPCs specifically work on policy issues while building community power, looking to address the root causes of food systems challenges and addressing them through government intervention informed by meaningful community engagement. 

To learn more, visit the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future’s Food Policy Networks (FPN) project.