CFSC Policy Program
Use these links to jump to the following sections:
Farm Bill •
Farm to School & Child Nutrition •
Food Safety •
Urban Agriculture
Background
The Community Food Security Coalition's policy work seeks federal resources to foster
community-based alternatives to the global food system. CFSC has successfully advocated
to create and reauthorize the Community Food Projects grant program. Over a hundred
projects have received funding to strengthen local food systems, increase low-income
food security while supporting local farmers, and develop local food planning and
policy organizations through this program. CFSC has also advocated in support of core nutrition programs as well as the WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs, which provides vouchers for WIC recipients and low-income seniors to use at farmers markets, and the Farmers Market Promotion Program, helping link farmers to their communities and increase access to healthy, fresh products. Now that the 2008 Farm Bill has become law, the policy staff will be tracking the rule-making and implementation processes.
Moving forward, CFSC has begun analysis of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act as well as legislation to support urban food production. Please subscribe to our Policy Updates list to keep abreast of our current policy work:
View the archive of email Policy Updates.
2008 Farm Bill
Though not perfect, the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 - more commonly known as the Farm Bill - makes important incremental changes in support of local and organic food, conservation and better agriculture policies. Our 2008 Farm Bill page has a "short list" of programs that CFSC has followed in the Farm Bill and their outcomes. For more information on how CFSC's priorities stand in the conference report, see the Policy Updates on 5/8/2008 and 5/15/2008. For a more in-depth look at the Farm Bill process, you can access our archive of materials on the Farm Bill, and view weekly progress updates in our 2007 and 2008 Policy Update archives.
Farm to School and Child Nutrition
Farm to School connects school cafeterias with local producers to bring students fresh, healthy foods while supporting the local economy. CFSC is partnering with the Center Food & Justice to head the National Farm to School Network, which is coordinating policy efforts around Farm to School issues.
Child Nutrition Reauthorization
Every four to five years, the Child Nutrition Reauthorization process creates an opportunity to strengthen programs that serve over 30 million low-income children a day - and this is one of those years. With the authorization of the National Farm to School Program in 2004 and tremendous interest in the farm to school model, the time is ripe to propose ideas for including locally and regionally grown foods in national meal programs.
Food Safety
There are a lot of rumors floating around about HR 875, a food safety bill introduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). Rep. DeLauro is a great friend of our issues, and despite rumors, her husband never worked for Monsanto. For the real truth on HR 875, download the Myths & Facts of HR 875, or read this helpful post at Ethicurean.com.
Myths & Facts of HR 875, the Food Safety Modernization Act [PDF, 68K]
Urban Agriculture
Because approximately 80% of the population lives in metropolitan areas, urban agriculture is an effective and necessary means for the food insecure to gain access to fresh, affordable, nutritious food. Urban agriculture can also provide innovative solutions to many other issues common in urban areas such as air pollution, waste removal, energy usage, and economic development and community revitalization. The CSFC's Urban Agriculture Committee is in the process of forming priorities for upcoming legislative opportunities.
Legislative Background
Local Food and Farm Support Act (HR 2364)
Section 13: Urban Agriculture Production Program
Provides grants and technical assistance to private non-profits to promote agricultural production capacity in metropolitan counties.
FOOD for a Healthy America Act (S. 1432)
Tools for Advocacy
CFSC Publications Related to Urban Agriculture
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