Public policy is the means to get things done and is most effective when grass-roots movement and local governments come together to work towards change.
Toronto's Food Policy, enacted in the early 1990's, is a model for the world to learn by as it is very well funded and very well rooted in the community.
The Toronto Food Policy Council is successful through its of uses social outreach to get people involved in working on issues like food security and community projects; working with certified groups and organizations to make projects possible and get people excited; have a great email system to keep people up-to-date.
In the Winne article, it talks about how one person went to city hall to try to get $20,000 to start a WIC/Farmers market program in 1987 in Connecticut.
That program lifted off, became the one of the first social programs sponsored by the USDA and is now nationally funded with $40 million annually, supporting low-income people and farmers markets nation wide.
Clancy discussed how many Food Policy Councils have failed or faded due to lack of social outreach, government support and mostly lack of funding. Without the funds needed to do what the members want to do, they have to focus on fundraising and eventually the whole council fizzles away.
These Food Councils are important for they help shape how the local food system plays out, the accessibility of fresh food and the local agri-economy.
This what they did to help combat the obesity crisis in Alabama; use a portion of cotton subsidies to towards WIC to buy fruits and veggies from farmers markets. This has helped poor people to buy more food, have access to healthy food, help the farmers make extra money and keep the money within the local economy.
Food Policy councils survive when they have the 3 P's; partners, projects and policy.
They help facilitate discussion and social interactions between different parties, to help the local community, use grass-roots approaches to make sure all voices can be heard for a city to adapt and create a sustainable food system that is healthy for all!
Based on the evidence provided in the Winne article, there are suggestions on how to improve future Farm Bills. The example provided on the cotton subsidies in Alabama, showed that if $7 million (less than 11% of the cotton subsidies) was cut from cotton subsidies and reallocated to the FMNP program it would help increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables and decrease the health care costs associated with diet related conditions. This week's articles also discussed how we can be effective not only on national policies, but also local and state policies. As Winne stated in his opening paragraph: "The farther away the decision makers are from those whose lives are affected by their decisions, the slower will be the change that occurs". It is very important that we not only advocate for food policies nationally, but also within our local communities since they are closer to those that are affected by their decisions.
ReplyDelete