1. Pontiac Food Policy Council Proposal
Welcome ladies and gentlemen, my name is Jonathan Riddle and I would like to discuss with the Pontiac City Council and the Mayor of Pontiac, and discuss its past, present and future. This presentation will cover a wide range of topic.
Presented by Jonathan Riddle

2. What Is A Food Policy Council? And How does it relate to Pontiac?

3. What is a Food Policy Council? And how does it relate to Pontiac?
A food policy council is an association of stakeholders from diverse sectors and backgrounds who work together to evaluate and improve their regional, state or local food systems (Food Systems Network NYC, 2011).
The purpose of this presentation is to educate the Pontiac City Council, and the Mayor’s office with the intended plan to initiate and establish a food policy council for the City of Pontiac. And discuss funding mechanisms.
The topics we will cover:
A Growing Concern about food security, health, agriculture, and the environment.
Purpose of the food policy council.
Objectives of the food policy council.
Problems with Accessing Food.
Characteristics of a food policy council.

4. Food Policy Council:
A Growing Concern

5. A Growing Concern
Food deserts- urban neighborhoods and rural towns shortage of readily available fresh, healthy, and affordable food (USDA).
Obesity rates among children -  two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese and one-third of school-age children (including adolescents) are overweight or obese in the U.S. (Ogden et al., 2014)
Loss of prime agricultural lands. Forty-five percent of the land in U.S. (2012) is arable, under permanent crops, and under permanent pastures (The World Bank, 2015).
Dwindling farmer population, and environmental, while 2% of the population consists of farm and ranch families, while 97% of farms are family operated.
Problems with soil erosion and water contamination - cropland is eroding at a rate of 37,000 square miles a year (Lang, 2006) and 35% U.S. rivers and streams are too dangerous for fishing, or drinking (foodandwaterwatch.org).
(American Planning Association, 2011).

6. Food Policy Council:
Purpose

7. Purpose
Place-based, promoting networks of stakeholders, linking urban and rural issues, engaging residents, and creating senses of place;
Ecologically sound, using environmentally sustainable methods for producing, processing, distributing, transporting, and disposing of food and agricultural by-products;
Economically productive, bolstering development capacity and providing job opportunities for farmers and community residents;
Socially cohesive, facilitating trust, sharing, and community building across a diverse range of cultures and addressing the concerns and needs of marginalized groups, including minority and immigrant farmers and farm laborers, financially struggling small farmers, and underserved inner-city and rural residents;
Food secure and literate, providing equitable physical and economic access to safe, nutritious, culturally appropriate, and sustainably grown food at all times across communities and fostering an understanding and appreciation of food, from production to disposal.
(American Planning Association, 2011).

8. Food Policy Council:
Objectives

9. Objectives
Advocate for policy change to improve a community’s food system.
Develop programs that address gaps in a community’s food system.
Strategize solutions that have wide applicability to the food system .
Research and analyze the existing conditions of a community’s food system
Communicate information about a community’s food system.
Cultivate partnerships among a community’s five food
sectors.
Convene meetings that draw diverse stakeholders of a community’s food system.
(American Planning Association, 2011).

10. Food Policy Council:
Food Access Problems

11. Food Access Problems
Infrastructure: Are public transportation links to existing grocery stores adequate?
Economic development: Which banks will or will not loan to new grocery stores?
Built environment: Which zoning codes or regulations could be changed to locate grocery stores closer to residential areas?
Alternatives or supplemental programs: Could a farmers market or home delivery program fill service gaps?
(American Planning Association, 2011).

12. Food Policy Council:
Characteristics

13. Characteristics Take a comprehensive approach
Pursue long-term strategies
Offer tangible solutions
Are place-based
Advocate on behalf of the larger community
Seek government buy-in
Establish formal membership
Operate with little or no funding
(American Planning Association, 2011)

14. Possible funding sources

15. Possible Funding Sources
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Drake University Ag Law Center
Community Food Security Coalition
Creating Local Food Policy Councils: A Guide for Michigan’s Communities (Why Hunger, 2014)

16. Food policy council
Budget

17. Budget TOTAL Community Foundation City Need unmet Coordinator Salary
TOTAL
Community Foundation
City
Need unmet
Coordinator Salary
$4,375
$3,750
$625.00 $-
Fringe Benefits
$787.50
$250.00
$537.50
Training
$3,000.00
$1,250
$500.00
Forum
$2,250
$1,000.00
Supplies
$275.00
$87.50
$187.50
$10,688
$6,500
$3,500
$687.50
Coordinator (External)
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Salary
$60,000
$45,000
$30,000
Benefits (20% of salary)
$12,000
$9,000
$6,000
Travel and Expenses
$2,500
$500
$250
Facilitation
$15,000
$5,000
$1,000
Communications
Publicity (web print)
Events
$10,000
Meeting Expenses
Meals
Yearly Total
$84,500
$76,000
$52,250
Total
$212,750

18. Michigan Food Policy Council
What is it?

19. What is the Michigan Food Policy Council?
Food policy councils, often established by state or local governments. Bring together a broad array of food- related public and private stakeholders to investigate every stage of the food process from seed to table.
Consumers, producers, and public officials are becoming more aware of the economic and health impacts of supporting fresh and local foods resulting in greater attention to many food-related issues.
Food policy councils are tapping into this increasing interest to explore policy options that improve the food system.
(Michigan.gov, 2014).

20. References
List of references for those who want to learn about more about the Michigan Food Policy Council and other Food Policy Councils.

21. References
American Farm Bureau Federation. (2015). Fast facts about agriculture. The Voice of Agriculture. Retrieved from
Food Policy Councils. (n.d.). Food Policy Councils. Retrieved from
Michigan Good Food Charter Development and Summit Website. Retrieved from
Food Research and Action Center. (n.d.). Overweight and obesity in the U.S. Retrieved from and-obesity/obesity-in-the-us/
Food Systems Network NYC. (2011). Food policy councils. Retrieved from
“Impacts of industrial agriculture.” (n.d.). GRACE Communications Foundation. Retrieved from
Lang, S.S. (2006). 'Slow, insidious' soil erosion threatens human health and welfare as well as the environment, Cornell study asserts. Cornell Chronicle. Retrieved from human-health-and-welfare
MFPC - MFPC. (n.d.). MFPC - MFPC. Retrieved from
Ogden C. L., Carroll, M. D., Kit, B.K., & Flegal K. M. (2014). Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, Journal of the American Medical Association, 311(8),
Snyder - Michigan Food Policy Council. (n.d.). Snyder - Michigan Food Policy Council. Retrieved from
The World Bank. (2015). Agriculture land (% of land area). Retrieved from
USDA. Creating Access to Healthy, Affordable Food. Retrieved from
Water. Food & water watch. Retrieved from
“Who we are.” (n.d.). Detroit Food Policy Council. Retrieved from
FYI: A copy of the references used in this presentation.

22. Questions?

23. Thank You.
Special thanks to my class.