Active Citizens, Healthy Foods U'S' Food and Farm Policy

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Active Citizens, Healthy Foods U.S. Food and
Farm Policy

• The 2007 Farm Bill and Beyond
• Prepared by the
• Community Food Security Coalition

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Why care about food and farm policy?

• 11 of the US population are food insecure-they
  dont know where their next meal is will come
  from
• Over 65 of the U.S. population is obese or
  overweight (Center for Disease Control)
• 16 of children are overweight or obese, with the
  rates increasing each year (Center for Disease
  Control)
• 11 million acres of farmland was lost between
  1992-1997 (Farmland Information Center National
  Statistics Sheet)

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More reasons to care

• It affects the quality and cost of our food, the
  livelihood of our farmers and the cleanliness of
  our air and water
• Citizen pressure on government creates policies
  that are more reflective of citizens needs and
  values
• If we say nothing, then nothing will change for
  the better!

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You should also care if any of the following is
true

• You think every person should be able to get
  healthy and affordable food
• You care and want to know about where your food
  comes from and how it is grown.
• You want children to be able to eat healthful
  food from local farmers in their schools.
• You believe in Fair Trade.
• You believe in farm worker and immigrant rights.
• You want to protect the land, air and water.

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At the national level, we influence the
direction of farm and food policy through

• Annual appropriations (the budget)
• Administrative action with federal agencies
• Child Nutrition Reauthorization
• The Farm Bill

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So.what is the Farm Bill?

• a broad package of proposals (titles) for new
  programs and changes to existing ones
• reauthorized about every five years
• some programs also have to go through a yearly
  appropriations process to get funding
• Last Farm Bill passed in 2002

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The Farm Bill is not just about farming

• The farm bill proposals address a range of issues
  including
• Access to healthy foods
• Public Health
• Nutrition Programs
• Protection of air, land and water
• Local Food System Development
• Sustainable Agriculture
• International trade
• Urban Agriculture
• Rural Development
• Farm worker rights

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Examples from the 2002 Farm Bill

• USDA Community Food Projects Funding for NGOs
  to help communities meet their own food needs
• USDA Value Added Producer Grants Resources for
  processing innovation
• Farmers Market Coupon Programs Coupons for
  families and seniors to shop at farmers markets.
• Food Stamp Program Changes Restored partial
  benefits to legal immigrants
• USDA Office of Civil Rights and Office of
  Outreach Ensure fair access to USDA services
  programs for farmers of color, and other limited
  resource and socially disadvantaged farmers
• Conservation Security Program Rewards farmers
  for farming practices that protect water, soil
  air.

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Programs Not in the Farm Bill

• Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act
• Farm to Cafeteria Grants Program
• Child Nutrition Programs (School Breakfast, Lunch
  Summer Food)
• WIC (Special
• Supplemental
• Nutrition Program
• for Women, Infants
• and Children)

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Potential influences on the upcoming Farm Bill

• World Trade Organization negotiation may restrict
  U.S. farm subsidies
• Taxpayer concern about high crop subsidy payments
• Federal Budget pressures caused by Iraq, Katrina
  and tax cuts
• Soaring energy costs affecting food prices
• Diet-related health problems, e.g. obesity
• Homeland security, food security and preparedness
  issues

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Farm and Food Policy Project (FFPP)

• Collaboration of hundreds of diverse
  organizations united by a vision of a sustainable
  food and agricultural system

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Healthy Food and Communities Workgroup

• Five Goals
• End Hunger and Increase Healthy Food Access
• Create a Food and Agricultural System that
  Enhances Health
• Increase Local and Regional Food Security
• Orient Research and Development Programs to
  Promote Innovative Solutions to Problems
• Protect the Health and Economic Opportunities of
  Vulnerable People

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End Hunger and Increase Healthy Food Access

• Food Stamp Program
• Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
• Retail access to healthy foods
• Public education for hunger prevention
• Support opportunities for increased consumption
  of healthful food products by low-income people

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Create a Food and Agricultural System that
Enhances Health

• Only healthy foods in schools
• Local/regional food in cafeterias
• Improved labeling standards
• Limit non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in
  livestock

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Increase Local and Regional Food Security

• Increased institutional purchase of local and
  regional products
• Expand Community Food Projects Grants
• Establish community food reserves
• Increase urban agriculture opportunities

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Orient Research and Development Programs to
Promote Innovative Solutions

• Community-based participatory research
• Better monitoring and evaluation of USDA programs
• Research on health impacts of food and farming
  systems

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Protect the Health and Economic Opportunities of
Vulnerable People

• Reduce promotion of unhealthy food to children
• Ensure safe working conditions and decent wages
  for all food system workers
• Halt the disproportionate loss of farmland by
  people of color
• Expand farm programs that serve young, women,
  people of color, and new farmers

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Other FFPP Workgroups

• Family Farm Revitalization
• Goal improve viability of small and mid-sized
  family farms and ranches and provide new
  opportunities in sustainable agriculture
• Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
• Farm and Ranch Stewardship
• Goal reward farmers and ranchers for
  environment-friendly practices
• Technical assistance
• Strengthening and expansion of cooperatives and
  partnerships

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Other FFPP workgroups cont

• New Agricultural Markets
• Goal enhance market opportunities for small and
  mid-sized farmers and ranchers
• Value-Added Producer Grant Program
• Support for transition to organic or other
  sustainable practices

www.cityfarmer.org/Phillyurbag9.html
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Talking about the Farm Bill

• What programs are helpful you would like to see
  continued?
• What programs are not helpful how should they
  be changed?
• What city, county or state programs work well and
  should be expanded on a national level?
• What community needs are not being met that you
  think should be addressed in the farm bill?

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What You Can Do

• Stay informed
• Get involved with the Farm Bill and FFPP
  discussions
• Educate and motivate others to become involved
  and voice their thoughts
• Be ready to respond to legislative alerts and
  contact your representatives in Congress
• Write letters and op-eds to your local newspapers
• Invite representatives or their staff to visit
  your community and see the projects you are
  involved in
• For more information, contact Heather Fenney
  310-822-5410 or Heather_at_foodsecurity.org

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Additional Reading

• www.farmandfoodproject.org
• www.CAFoodJustice.org
• www.foodsecurity.org
• www.FoodFirst.org
• www.worldhungeryear.org/fslc/

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Remember

• you are what you eat, but
• how you vote determines what you eat!