Food Policy

Learning about food policy is an important way to change our food system!

Policy Examples: 
 Be Prepared in Case of an emergency for 78 hours! Page 1 Page 2
Carolyn Bennett, MP Posting: Towards a Comprehensive Food Policy for Canada -  download here.
Local Food Initiatives in Canada - An Overview and Policy Recommendations -  download here.

Excerpt below from: http://www.foodthoughtful.ca/section4/index.html  

In short, policies simply guide our actions.  Policies can be guidelines, rules, regulations, laws, principles, or directions.  They say what is to be done, who is to do it, how it is to be done and for (or to) whom it is to be done. Most of us think that we have no control over policies and that they are issues our elected officials and bureaucrats deal with. Well, this is not true. The world is full of policies—for example, families make policies like “No TV until homework is done”. Agencies and organizations make policies that guide the way they operate. Stores have return policies. Workplaces have policies about things like sick days. Schools have policies that describe the way they expect children to behave. 

Do policies shape our social norm?  Do our social norms limit policy in the area of food security?  Does the public support the right to food for all? Policy occurs at various levels and points of interaction—personal, organizational, and public.  If we use the right strategies we can be successful in influencing all aspects of policy.  Public support for policy change in food security is important.

Canadian example - Provincial Approaches to Food Policy -  download here.
The Farmers Share -  Compare the Share - download here.
American example - Policy Guide on Community and  Regional Food Planning -  download here

The following section will help to clear up some of the questions you may have about policies and will hopefully allow you to see the many different ways you can be involved with changing policies to increase food security in your community.

Policy is a guide for action, and is different from regulations...

Policies do the following:

• Outline rules

• Provide principles that guide actions

• Set roles and responsibilities

• Reflect values and beliefs

• State an intention to do something

Adapted from “Rural Communities Impacting Policy—A Workbook” 2005

Why a policy may have to be developed or changed:

• Basic needs are not being met

• People have been treated unfairly

• Current policies or laws are not enforced or effective

• Proposed changes in policies and laws would be harmful

• Existing or emerging conditions pose a threat to public health, safety, education or well-being

http://www.foodthoughtful.ca/section4/index.html

  Developed by the Food Security Projects of the Nova Scotia Nutrition Council and the Atlantic Health Promotion Research Centre, Dalhousie University,

Some good examples of Policy in Action...you will need RealPlayer for these videos.

November 16-17, 2006 - Princeton University Food, Ethics and the Environment Conference
	November 16, 2006 - Peter Singer, Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics, Princeton University and Eric Schlosser '81, Journalist and author of Fast Food Nation, "The True Cost of Cheapness": "Session I: "Moving Beyond Fast Food Nation"" VideoNet 56K 350K 56K 350K
	November 17, 2006 - Marion Nestle, Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health at New York University and author of Food Politics, Safe Food, and What to Eat. "Environmental Determinants of Food Choice: The Ethics of Food Marketing." and Gary Nabhan, Director of the Center for Sustainable Environments at Northern Arizona University and author of Coming Home to Eat: The Pleasures and Politics of Local Foods. "Ethics, energetics and diversity-enhancing benefits of eating locally": "Session II: "Eating Well and Eating Locally"" VideoNet 56K 350K 56K 350K
	November 17, 2006 - Becky Goldburg '80, Senior Scientist, Environmental Defense. "One Fish, Two Fish, Will There be More Fish?," Gidon Eshel, Assistant Professor of Physical Oceanography and Climate, Department of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago and co-author, with Pam Martin, of "Diet, Energy and Global Warming" (Earth Interactions, Vol. 10, pp. 1-17, March 2006). Pamela Martin, Assistant Professor, Department of the Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago and co-author, with Gidon Eshel, of "Diet, Energy and Global Warming" (Earth Interactions, Vol. 10, pp. 1-17, March 2006). Gidon Eshel & Pamela Martin: "Some Effects of Dietary Choices on the Physical Environment" Paul Shapiro, Director, Factory Farming Campaign, Humane Society (U.S.). "Farm Animal Welfare Concerns and Progress in the United States".: "Session III: "Concerns for Oceans, Climate and Animal Welfare"" VideoNet 56K 350K 56K 350K
	November 17, 2006 - Michael Pollan, Knight Professor of Science and Environmental Journalism at UC Berkeley, and author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World. "The Omnivore's Dilemma: Ethics and Other Considerations" Bob Langert, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship, McDonald's Corporation." 'Fork to Farm' Responsibilities: A Perspective from the Golden Arches & Beyond": "Session IV: "The Omnivore's Choices and the Corporation's Responsibilities"" VideoNet 56K 350K 56K 350K
	November 17, 2006 - John Turenne, President and founder, Sustainable Food Systems, LLC. "A Sustainable Food Program? Great, But What Will it Cost?" Stu Orefice, Director, Princeton University Dining Services. "What is on Our Plate at Princeton?" Panel: John Turenne and Stu Orefice will be joined by Bill Andersen '81, President, Longview Development Company, founding member of the Phoenixville Farmers' Market and Charlestown Farm Center. Katy Andersen '08, Greening Princeton. Anim Steel, Associate Director, the Food Project, Lincoln MA. Nathan Gregory, Graduate student, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.: "Session V: "Eating More Ethically at Princeton"" VideoNet 56K 350K 56K 350K