Iowa Food Systems Council

Iowa Food Systems Council: A Second Generation State Food Policy Council

History of the Iowa Food Systems Council (August 2011)

Listen to Susan Roberts describe the history of Iowa's Food Policy Council on 99.1 KFMG Green Cities Radio (aired 7/16/10) here.

A retrospective

Iowa Food Policy Council v1.0

The first Iowa Food Policy Council (IFPC) was established in March 2000 by Iowa Governor Vilsack through Executive Order 16 and was administered by Drake University Agricultural Law Center.1 Funding came from federal grants and administrative support from Drake University (see archive). The IFPC provided a vehicle for networking, communication, examining the Iowa food system and reporting to the Governor’s office policy recommendations to improve the food system in Iowa, especially focused on food security issues and local food production. To extend the work of the IFPC, Executive Orders 19, 29 and 38 were issued by Governor Vilsack. IFPC activity ceased in 2006 as a result of a change in Governor, the end of federal funding, and the expiration of Executive Order 28.

The IFPC consisted of 21 citizen members, appointed by the Governor and represented diverse food-related sectors (local producers; food processors, distributors and retailers; cooperative extension representatives; urban agriculture representatives; academicians; researchers; agriculture policy and legal experts, health professionals, professionals working with immigrant populations; and food security experts). Seven appointed ex-officio state agency advisors representing agriculture, economic development, health, education, elder affairs, inspections, and human services also served on the IFPC.

Six subcommittees and several task forces were formed including the Food Security and Health Task Force, the Institutional Purchasing Task Force and the Promoting Local Foods Task Force. Notable achievements of the Food Security and Health Task Force were the recognition by Congress for leadership and contributions in improving the operation of Iowa’s food assistance programs and the Hunger in Iowa Report.

 
Stakeholders approached Governor Culver to resume the IFPC, however an Executive Order was not issued. Due to the concerns about food costs, food access, health, the environment and farm policies, stakeholders have acknowledged the need to re-establish the IFPC as a vehicle to address these growing concerns among Iowans.

Engaged Stakeholder Group Re-established Council

Since October 2008, Stakeholders representing diverse food system sectors across Iowa have engaged in strategic planning activities in an effort to re-establish the state food policy council. Stakeholders include academia, commodity groups, conservation districts, Extension agents, faith-based communities, farm organizations, food banks and pantries, food retailers, foundations, health organizations, planners, producers, public health officials, state government agencies, and youth. Accomplishments include crafting a mission, vision and goal statements, identifying core values and functions, securing funding, and establishing a stable governance structure.

In March 2010, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation provided a one year grant to Iowa to continue the work of the Stakeholders, establish a governance structure and conduct a comprehensive assessment and policy plan of Iowa’s food, farming and health landscape. This process formed the foundation for identifying priorities and policies to help ensure that Iowa has a just and diverse food system which supports healthier people, communities, economies and the environment. The administration of this grant is provided by the Iowa Center on Health Disparities at the University of Northern Iowa.

Iowa Food Systems Council - The Next Generation

A key focus of Stakeholders has been to evaluate state food policy council governance structures and to identify an infrastructure that garners longevity, viability and capacity to advance a just and diverse food system which supports healthier Iowans, communities, economies, and the environment. A committee was assembled to analyze the challenges and opportunities of various governance structures and present findings to Stakeholders. Stakeholders decided that a member-based non-profit (501(c)(3)) governance structure would provide the greatest opportunities for carrying out the mission and vision.

Stakeholders agreed that the next generation state food policy council in Iowa will be known as the Iowa Food Systems Council (IFSC) and will be governed by a 17-member Board of Directors who represent diverse food system sectors and domains. Recognizing the importance of state government agencies, several state government agency representatives will serve on the IFSC in an ex-officio, non-voting capacity. The IFSC workgroups include Food Access & Health, Environment, Economic, Fair Food and Farming, and Education/Outreach. Several committees will be formed to work on building the capacity of the IFSC.

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