Advancing food democracy: The potential and limits of food policy positions in local government

Erika Berglund,Caroline Stephens,Paul Lachapelle,Neva Hassanein

doi:10.5304/jafscd.2021.111.002

Erika Berglund, Caroline Stephens + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2021.111.002

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Abstract

For several decades, food policy councils (FPCs) have led the effort to place food on local government policy agendas. While FPCs are making progress in supporting local food systems, they also face institutional and organizational challenges. In recent years, a handful of cities and counties have endeavored to further food system reform with the establishment of full-time government staff positions focused on food policy. As of spring 2020, there were 19 confirmed food policy positions housed in local governments across the United States. While there is considerable literature on FPCs, little research has been published regarding food policy staffing in local governments. Accordingly, this study uses original in-depth interviews with 11 individuals in municipal or county food policy positions to understand the purpose and function of governmental food policy staff positions and their impact on local food systems. Our findings suggest that these positions help to coordinate and nurture local food programs and policies and have the potential to facilitate meaningful participation of individuals and groups in the community in food system reform. We discuss the potential benefits and challenges for governmental food policy positions to support food democracy, and provide the following recommendations for communities interested in establishing or strengthening similar positions: (1) identify and coordinate existing opportunities and assets, (2) foster and maintain leadership support, (3) root the work in community, (4) connect with other food policy professionals, and (5) develop a food system vision.

Highlights

Over the last several decades, numerous scholars, community development practitioners, and activists have critiqued the dominant, industrial food system, in part because of the extraordinary levels of economic and political power held by transnational agri-food firms
To address our research questions, we carried out and thematically analyzed original, in-depth interviews with 11 individuals in municipal or county food policy staff positions. Based on this thematic analysis, we describe the relevance of governmental food policy staff positions to U.S communities and reflect upon the potential for such positions to support the principles of food democracy in community food systems
Our study identified ways that some local governments are using food policy staff positions to increase community capacity and move toward food democracy

Summary

Introduction

Over the last several decades, numerous scholars, community development practitioners, and activists have critiqued the dominant, industrial food system, in part because of the extraordinary levels of economic and political power held by transnational agri-food firms. FPCs have the potential to promote many of the basic tenets of community development, including encouraging local self-reliance, building resiliency, supporting equity and justice, and enhancing social capital, to name but a few (Christensen & Phillips, 2017; Lamie & Deller, 2017). Despite their fundamental role in food system reform and food democracy, FPCs face limitations in their capacity and resources.

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