Food Policy Councils
NJ Food Democracy Collaborative believes strongly in the power of bringing people together with diverse experiences, knowledge, skills, concerns, and resources to collaboratively problem-solve food system challenges of their communities through civic engagement.
The New Jersey Food Democracy Collaborative convenes the New Jersey Food Policy Council (NJFPC), a statewide, multi-sector policy body that advances coordinated food system policy in New Jersey.
Food Policy Councils in New Jersey
Food Policy Councils (FPCs) are collaborative, multi-stakeholder bodies that bring together people across the food system to identify challenges, develop solutions, and advance policy change.
In New Jersey:
Local and regional food policy councils operate at the county and municipal level
The New Jersey Food Policy Council (NJFPC) serves as a statewide coordinating body
Together, these efforts help strengthen alignment between local priorities and statewide policy action.
RESOURCES
What are Food Policy Councils?
FPCs are multi-stakeholder groups at the city, county, or regional level, collaborating to identify and advance policy goals to address food system challenges.
No two policy councils are exactly alike. What most have in common is shared beliefs, participation from multiple sectors of the food system, and a focus on policy and systems change to improve the food and farming systems of the communities where they are organized.
“Driving Change: How Food Policy Councils Build a Better Food System” is an overview of the core roles of food policy councils and examples of how they do their work.
A FPC can go by many names, and may not even include the words “policy” or “councils” in their names!
FPCs can be created by the government or be entirely grassroots, or somewhere in between. No matter what, to successfully change the food environment, or build community food systems, the group/coalition/council must include and value participation from those with on-the-ground knowledge and first-hand experience of the issues and include participation from people in decision-making positions.
Food Policy Explainer Video
This short video, “Why Food Policy Councils?” aims to demystify what food policy councils are, why they matter, and how they impact our communities. It was created by the Better Food Policy Fund.
Helpful Resources
Learning About and Connecting Food Policy Entities in Washington State
Food Policy Networks — a national nonprofit to support food policy councils.
FAQs
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Johns Hopkins University’s Food Policy Networks keeps an online directory of FPCs in the U.S.
Passaic County Food Policy Council
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Some common practices of Food Policy Councils are:
Conducting Community Food Assessments
Hosting Food Summits or other convenings around a topic or concern
Creating a policy agenda
Using the Advocacy Coalition Framework (learn more here)
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We highly recommend starting with these two documents:
“From civic group to advocacy coalition: Using a food policy audit as a tool for change” by Jill K. Clark It is an article published in the Journal Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development (2018)
Want more information? Use the form below, on this page, to get in touch with NJFDC about starting or find a FPC in NJ.