Madison, WI, is a city known for its vibrant culture and commitment to sustainability, and a crucial part of this is its food system. At the heart of shaping this landscape is the Madison Food Policy Council (MFPC). This council plays a vital role in developing and recommending policies to strengthen the local food system, ensuring access to healthy and culturally appropriate food for all residents of Madison, Wisconsin.
What is the Madison Food Policy Council?
The Madison Food Policy Council is a public body dedicated to advising the Mayor and Common Council on all matters related to the city’s food system. Going beyond local initiatives, the MFPC also advocates for similar efforts at the national level. The council comprises 23 diverse members representing key facets of the food system in Madison and the surrounding region. This includes voices from the Madison Metropolitan School District, the Dane County Food Council, food producers, community advocates, and elected officials, ensuring a broad spectrum of perspectives are considered. The MFPC acts as a central hub for collaboration, a platform for community concerns, and a proactive force in shaping food in Madison WI. Erica Anderson currently leads the council as chair.
Mission
The core mission of the Madison Food Policy Council is to champion policies, programs, and resource sharing that foster a thriving local and regional food system. This encompasses supporting equitable access to wholesome, culturally relevant food, promoting nutrition education, and bolstering economic opportunities within the food sector of Food Madison Wi.
History
The Madison Food Policy Council was officially established in October 2012. Former Mayor Paul Soglin, in collaboration with the Madison Common Council, recognized the need for a dedicated body to address food system issues, leading to the council’s formation and its ongoing impact on food madison wi.
Role and Responsibilities
The MFPC undertakes a range of critical responsibilities to influence food policy in Madison WI:
- Policy Recommendations: They provide recommendations to the Mayor and Common Council regarding ordinances, policies, and budgetary allocations that impact the food system.
- Policy Development: The council requests city staff to develop specific food system policies, drawing upon community research, input, and expert advice.
- Expert Consultation: They actively solicit input from food system experts and citizens, facilitating discussions to inform their policy recommendations and ensure comprehensive understanding of food madison wi needs.
- Subcommittees: The MFPC creates subcommittees to enhance stakeholder collaboration and provide focused support for specific policy recommendations.
- Review of Other Councils: They review recommendations from related bodies like the Dane County Food Policy Council and the Public Market Development Committee, ensuring a coordinated approach to food in Madison WI.
- National Advocacy: The MFPC develops and endorses policies for consideration by national food policy organizations and policymakers, particularly through the United States Conference of Mayors Food Policy Taskforce, extending their influence beyond local food madison wi issues.
Current Structure and Work Groups
The MFPC operates primarily through work groups, allowing for focused action on specific areas of food madison wi. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MFPC joined forces with the Dane County Food Council to create a unified COVID-19 Framework. This framework has led to joint work groups, streamlined meeting processes, and fostered closer collaboration between city and county efforts to address community food system challenges both during and after the pandemic, strengthening the overall food madison wi network.
MFPC-DCFC COVID-19 Framework
MFPC Project Sustainability Charter
Healthy Retail Access Work Group (Ad Hoc)
Recognizing that food access in Madison WI is not uniform across all neighborhoods, this work group focuses on developing strategies to address specific challenges in different areas. Their significant achievement includes establishing the Healthy Retail Access Program in 2015. Based on the Madison Food Policy Council’s recommendation, former Mayor Paul Soglin initiated this program with funding in the 2015 Capital Budget, which was subsequently approved by the Common Council. The program now receives $150,000 annually to support projects that enhance healthy retail options and improve food madison wi accessibility.
SEED Grants Work Group (Ad Hoc)
Established in 2013 by the Madison Food Policy Council, the SEED Grant Program offers micro-grants to organizations actively working to improve food access in Madison WI. Each year, this work group evaluates applications and recommends grant recipients, directly supporting grassroots initiatives that strengthen the food madison wi community.
Edible Landscapes and Terrace Plantings Work Group (Disbanded August 2017)
URL: Edible Landscapes Work Group Final Report
This work group, comprised of five MFPC members including current Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, played a crucial role in advocating for ordinances that permit edible landscapes on city-owned land and plantings on street terraces, enhancing urban food madison wi initiatives. In 2013, their efforts culminated in the Common Council adopting these ordinances, fostering greener and more sustainable public spaces within food madison wi. Although disbanded in August 2017, their legacy continues to shape the city’s landscape.
Conclusion
The Madison Food Policy Council stands as a cornerstone of the food system in Madison WI. Through its diverse initiatives, policy recommendations, and collaborative approach, the MFPC is instrumental in building a sustainable, equitable, and healthy food future for Madison. To learn more about their work and how you can get involved in shaping food madison wi, explore the Prospective Member Guide.
