Food policy councils operate in many cities, towns and regions throughout Massachusetts with the goal to improve the local food system. The Collaborative supports their work through the Food Policy Councils Network.
read more…The Collaborative is working to reduce food waste in Massachusetts through research, advocacy and network building.
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As part of the Collaborative’s mission to support a sustainable, equitable, and resilient food system, we have hosted dozens of advocacy trainings since the organization was founded. Training can go over the basics of how policy is made in Massachusetts, how to build relationships with decision makers, updates on food system bills, power-mapping, and more. […]
read more…We’re mid legislative-session and the August legislative recess is on deck, but hearings will resume in September. Testimony can be submitted at any time but should be sent before a hearing is concluded.
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Farming in Massachusetts faces many challenges from high land costs, to insufficient education and technical assistance resources, to incongruent regulations, to an inadequate labor supply. The Collaborative works to connect agricultural organizations with food system policy and advocacy efforts designed to create a more secure and sustainable local food system.
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Massachusetts lawmakers are beginning to debate how to best invest billions of dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). They need to hear from YOU about the importance of supporting a resilient local food system. Last year, the Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) program received more than $200 million in requests for funding from […]
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Our food system, like our country, was constructed within a systemically racist framework. As healthy food relies on healthy soil, a healthy food system relies on practices based on an understanding of this framework and a commitment to dismantling it.
read more…Do you want to: Understand how to read legislation? Learn advocacy tips to help bills get passed? Help build advocacy efforts around key bills? Then join the Collaborative for our upcoming series of Advocacy 102 sessions on key local food system bills under consideration in the Massachusetts Legislature. The Zoom-based workshops begin on April 22 […]
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Check out responses from candidates to the Collaborative’s questionnaire here! The local food system relies on wise public policy to function well. Laws and regulations about land, natural resources, health and safety, and other issues all impact how sustainable and equitable our food system is, as do public investments in programs. Across the food chain, […]
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While the state limits the authority of municipalities to take action on certain issues, such as zoning, municipalities have significant power over their local food system – property taxes, public water and sewer systems, public school systems, local public health measures, public works and public safety all fall under a municipality’s jurisdiction to regulate. The value in municipal-level work to support the food system is significant.
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