What is a food policy council?
Food policy councils, often established by state or local governments, bring together a broad array of food-related public and private stakeholders to investigate every stage of the food process from seed to table. Consumers, producers, and public officials are becoming more aware of the economic and health impacts of supporting fresh and local foods resulting in greater attention to many food-related issues. Food policy councils are tapping into this increasing interest to explore policy options that improve the food system.
What is the Michigan Food Policy Council (MFPC)?
Created by Executive Order 2005-13 and funded in partnership with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Michigan Food Policy Council (MFPC) brings diverse food-related stakeholders together to recommend programs and policies to the Governor that improve Michigan’s food future. The MFPC has a mission to cultivate a safe, healthy and available food supply for all of Michigan’s residents while building on the state’s agricultural diversity to enhance economic growth.
The MFPC is unique in that it focuses on the food system as an economic development strategy while explicitly linking to the state’s agricultural production, public health and community well being. The MFPC gives food-related stakeholders the forum to identify policies that harness the potential of the food system to aid in communities’ economic development, provide children and those in need greater access to fresh and nutritious foods, and support stewardship of our finite land and water resources.
Who makes up the MFPC?
The MFPC consists of 21 Council Members representing a broad spectrum of government agencies and non-governmental entities including:
- The Directors from each of the following state agencies: Department of Agriculture – chair (MDA), Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG), Department of Community Health (MDCH), Department of Education (MDE), Department of Human Services (MDHS), and Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
- Two representatives from farm organizations in the state
- Two representatives from the sustainable agriculture community
- One representative from higher education
- One representative from K-12 education
- One representative from community-based urban development
- One representative from rural development
- One representative from the anti-hunger community
- One representative from the public health arena
- One representative from the food-processing sector
- One representative from the food-retailing sector
- One representative from the non-food manufacturing sector
- One representative from the restaurant sector
- One representative from organized labor
What will MFPC accomplish?
The MFPC will focus on these broad issue areas for investigation and recommendations:
- Expanding food-related businesses and jobs,
- Creating urban and rural partnerships,
- Improving access to fresh and healthy foods,
- Promoting purchase of Michigan foods,
- And enhancing agricultural viability.
What are the benefits of MFPC?
Economically the work of the MFPC will result in direct benefits to farmers, local food processors, manufacturers, distributors and retailers as well as the communities in which these enterprises develop. At all points in the food supply chain opportunities will develop to positively impact the economics of families and communities. Indirect economic benefits will also result for rural and urban residents through food-related revitalization projects.
From a public health standpoint MFPC’s work is intended to help impact the broad population, with a special emphasis on school children and low-income families and individuals in both urban and rural areas. Increased accessibility to fresh and healthy Michigan grown foods, coupled with physical activity and nutrition education, can contribute to reducing obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic disease in Michigan adults and children.
Environmentally, all of Michigan’s residents gain from the ecosystem services provided by a sustainable and viable agricultural sector such as preserving farmland as open space.
How is MFPC Structured?
The 21-member Council is charged with recommending policies and programs to the Governor by October 2006 that improve the state's food system. Under the direction of the Chairperson the Council formed four Task Forces in order to bring additional stakeholders to the table and investigate aspects of the food system in greater detail. The Task Forces are:
Task Force Participants include Council Members, State Employees, and public experts. Task Forces report their findings to the Council which will deliberate and vote on policy recommendations and Council actions.
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