Finding Our Way to Food Democracy: Lessons from US Food Policy Council Governance

Abstract

Food policy councils (FPCs) are an embodiment of food democracy, providing a space for community members, professionals, and government to learn together, deliberate, and collectively devise place-based strategies to address complex food systems issues. These collaborative governance networks can be considered a transitional stage in the democratic process, an intermediary institution that coordinates interests not typically present in food policymaking. In practice, FPCs are complex and varied. Due to this variety, it is not entirely clear how the structure, membership, and relationship to government of an FPC influence its policy priorities. This article will examine the relationship between an FPC’s organizational structure, relationship to government, and membership and its policy priorities. Using data from a 2018 survey of FPCs in the United States by the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future paired with illustrative cases, we find that an FPC’s relationship to government and membership have more bearing on its policy priorities than the organizational structure. Further, the cases illustrate how membership is determined and deliberation occurs, highlighting the difficulty of including underrepresented voices in the process.

New England food policy councils: An assessment of organizational structure, policy priorities and public participation

“…Although no surveyed New England FPCs report reserving seats for groups representing different ages, gender, income levels or races and ethnicities, most report having individuals from these groups among their members and half report they recruit members from at least one under-represented group. The possibility of a connection between membership and public engagement is supported by a study finding a relationship between some membership sectors and an FPC's policy priority; for example, an FPC that has farmers as members is more likely to work on food production policies (Bassarab et al, 2019).…”

Food Policy Councils as Loci for Practising Food Democracy? Insights from the Case of Oldenburg, Germany

“…This lack of farmer involvement is typical for the phenomenon of FPCs: In the US, FPC members mostly represent the production, distribution, and consumption sectors (Harper et al, 2009, p. 24), but particularly at the local level, the agricultural sector appears to be underrepresented (Mooney, Tanaka, & Ciciurkaite, 2014, p. 238). Bassarab, Clark, Santo, and Palmer (2019) show that membership composition significantly influences the policy priorities of FPCs.…”

One Place Doesn't Fit All: Improving the Effectiveness of Sustainability Standards by Accounting for Place

“…Communities, such as Denver, must operate within the confines of their political authority, in this case the city and county. Seventy-one percent of food policy councils in North America operate at the county or sub-county (e.g., city) level (Bassarab et al, 2019). Yet, it is very unlikely that most counties, particularly those that are urban, can meet their own food needs.…”