What is a Food Policy Council?
Food Policy Councils (FPCs) provide a unique forum for diverse stakeholders to come together and address common concerns regarding food policy including food systems, food security, farm policy, food regulations, health, and nutrition. Stakeholders include people such as farmers, city and state officials, non-profit organizations, chefs, food distributors, food justice advocates, educators, health professionals, and concerned citizens. FPCs bring together these stakeholders to share concerns and then utilize this diverse membership to act on common goals, thus influencing and shaping food policy. FPCs exist in various other cities and states, and have had much success in improving and amending policies to be friendlier to local food systems and improve access to healthy foods.
About the Mississippi Food Policy Council
The Mississippi Food Policy Council started with preliminary meetings in spring and summer 2010 to start discussing whether there was a need for a state-level food policy council. Members agreed that this council would fill a useful and needed role in bringing together various stakeholders and advocates around food, farming, health, and economic development to forge better food policies for Mississippi. The MFPC meets 4-5 times per year with individuals and representatives from organizations around the state of Mississippi to educate, network, and discuss policy changes. In summer 2011 we elected our first board, and the board meets monthly.
The MFPC employs the following strategies to improve our food system:
(a) Strengthening the connections between food, health, natural resource protection, economic development and the agricultural community.
(b) Researching, analyzing and reporting on information about the local food system.
(c) Advocating for and advising on food system and food policy implementation.
(d) Promoting and providing education on food system issues.
Governance
The MFPC is governed by an eight person board of directors. For more information, please view a copy of our by-laws here: MFPC By-laws -edited 5-7-13.
