Policy

Municipal Zoning for Local Foods in Iowa

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lcsaMunicipalities in Iowa and across the nation are increasingly recognizing the multiple benefits of urban agriculture; however, zoning regulations can unintentionally impede urban agriculture. To respond to this challenge the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University funded Gary Taylor and Andrea Vaage to develop the Municipal Zoning for Local Foods in Iowa guidebook. The guidebook provides science-based guidance and sample zoning code language designed to reduce the barriers to, and promote production and sales activities commonly associated with urban agriculture.  Although written for Iowa, the guidebook contains practical information and code language applicable to any local jurisdiction.

The guidebook addresses the following common urban agriculture uses: aquaculture, bees, chickens, goats, front-yard gardens, community and market gardens, gardening on vacant lots, urban farms, season extenders, composting, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) drop-sites, farm stands, farmers markets, food trucks and pushcarts, and urban agriculture districts.  Each chapter provides a general description of the activity, and the science-based information on standards and best practices associated with the activity; the public health, safety and welfare concerns commonly associated with the activity; a summary of the commonalities found among municipalities’ codes; and sample code language taken from municipalities that vary both in size and location.

For more information, click here.

Milan’s Urban Food Policy Pact

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On World Food Day on October 16th Mayors from 46 cities around the world will sign on to Milan’s Urban Food Policy Pact. Work on the Pact by international experts, the European Union and United Nations began in 2014 to craft the proposal. The pact focuses on equitable and sustainable food systems and includes goals to “develop sustainable dietary guidelines”, “encourage and support social and solidarity economy activities”, “help provide services to food producers in and around cities”, “support short food chains” and “raise awareness of food loss and waste”. Click here to find out more about the pact and which cities will sign on.

Alaska: State Bill Proposes Eliminating Obstacles to Donation of Local Food

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The Alaska Legislature is considering a bill that will eliminate obstacles to donating local food (fish, game, plants and eggs) to senior centers, child care facilities, schools, and other institutions.

“Caribou instead of corn dogs … salmon instead of Trout Treasures … seal meat in place of spaghetti — all could soon be available to more Alaskans if traction continues on a new bipartisan bill before the Alaska Legislature. House Bill 179 allows schools, senior centers, hospitals, child care centers and other facilities to accept and serve fish, game, plants and eggs that are donated by subsistence and sport users. Currently, state laws intended to prevent the commercial sale of wild game make the practice illegal if a program accepting food donations charges for the meal at any point before it is consumed. This means schools and senior centers, for example, are unable to provide meals containing subsistence- or sport-caught wild food if they accept any payment, including from federal or state meal programs…”

To view the full article, click here.

Request For Abstracts: Health Affairs “Food And Health” Theme Issue

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HealthAffairsJournalHealth Affairs is planning a theme issue on food and health in November 2015. The issue will present work that explores the relationship between the food we consume and our wellbeing on the individual, societal, and global levels. Articles will address causes and consequences of dietary excess and insufficiency, analyze policies and programs aimed at influencing these, and explore the roles of public policy, industry, and stakeholder groups in the context of dietary behavior. To be considered, abstracts must be submitted by midnight, EST, Monday, February 23, 2015. For more information, click here.