The Farm and Food Policy Project was one of two major policy reform collaboratives organized by the nonprofit sector for the 2007-2008 Farm Bill. Undertaking a strategy to pursue incremental reforms for a more sustainable and equitable farm and food system by working with the House and Senate Agriculture Committee members, the project’s consensus policy recommendations resulted in significant structural reforms for marginalized producer groups, as well as a funding increase totaling $7 billion over five years for sustainable agriculture, locally-led conservation projects, local food production and marketing, and development of new and beginning farmers.

Aside from the policy outcomes, one goal of the project was to engage and include a broader set of stakeholders than had previously been included in any Farm Bill. A consensus-building model was adopted by the project’s lead grantees: American Farmland Trust, Community Food Security Coalition, Environmental Defense Fund, Rural Coalition, and Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. The Northeast-Midwest Institute served as the coordinator for this three-year, $5-million initiative, funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. While issues pertaining to the reform of farm subsidies were outside the scope of this project, significant policies and advocacy networks were developed in support of socially disadvantaged producers, the production and marketing of locally-produced food, and healthy, affordable food access in underserved areas.

Farm and Food Policy Project Web site

Policy Areas

• Farm and Food Policy Project
  

Background

• Overview of the FFPP
• Making Healthy Food More Accessible for Low-income People
• The Case for Local and Regional Food Marketing

Goals

• Seeking Balance in U.S. Farm and Food Policy (Color | B&W | Sign-On List)

Outcomes

• Policies from Seeking Balance and related policies
• Priority Program Funding Authorization Levels
• Socially Disadvantaged Producer Reforms
• Pursuing Reform in U.S. Farm and Food Policy
• Project Evaluation