What is Food Policy?
What is Food Policy?
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Food policies are the decisions we make individually and together about food — how it’s grown, harvested, prepared, shared and enjoyed. Good public policy is key to increasing the quality of our food, growing our local food economy, reducing food insecurity, and improving the health of the land.
The KFPC hosts discussions, presentations, and educational opportunities at our network potlucks. We respond to critical issues that impact our food system, like the debates on urban hens and bees, the elimination of pesticides, and industrial development proposals such as the Ajax Mine and the Kinder-Morgan Pipeline. Getting involved in our programs, or our partner’s programs, is a great way to learn about the underlying issues in our food system and to find out how you can take action towards the kind of food system you’d like to see.
Here are some of the plans and policies we’ve contributed to at the local government level, in collaboration with the City of Kamloops:
The KFPC also contributes to food policy and program development by publishing and sharing what we’ve learned:
Food Policy
Food Policy
Land Use and Local Food Production
October 11, 2024
Food Policy
Food Policy
Community Engagement and Food Dialogue
October 11, 2024
Food Policy
Food Policy
The Importance of Complete Neighbourhoods
October 10, 2024
Food Policy
Food Policy
Housing Affordability: Food and the City 2024
October 10, 2024
Food Policy
Food Policy
Vulnerable Populations and Food Security: Food and the City 2024
October 3, 2024
Food Policy | Food Security
Food Policy | Food Security
Relaunching Food and the City: A Policy Vision for Kamloops in 2024
September 11, 2024
What's the Difference Between a Food Policy Council and a Frontline Service?
What's the Difference Between a Food Policy Council and a Frontline Service?
People often misunderstand what we do. When they hear the name Kamloops Food Policy Council (KFPC), they ask if that’s a food bank. Although frontline services like the food bank have goals similar to those of the KFPC, like relieving hunger and reducing poverty, we act on these goals differently.
Frontline services provide direct support like meals, clothing or shelter for those in need. If we imagine our society as a stream, the top of the stream holds root causes for systemic issues like homelessness and food insecurity; midstream we can see the effects and risks these systems cause at a community level; and downstream are individuals and small groups that are actively being harmed by these issues, such as those experiencing food insecurity or homelessness.
At each level of the stream are different interventions. Downstream, we have frontline services, such as food banks and shelters, that can help individuals and small groups (like a family unit). Midstream, we have community-level interventions, like public education campaigns, distribution of harm reduction materials and programs, and initiatives to improve food availability and neighbourhood safety. At the top of the stream we have policy, governing bodies, the education system, and systemic racism.
The KFPC operates at the upstream and midstream levels, where we advocate for policy reform, provide government and community education to shift mindsets, and work to break down forms of systemic oppression in our local community and in governing systems.
Here is a great visual from Research Gate that illustrates the upstream, midstream and downstream levels of society:
Since the closure of the Mustard Seed’s day room and The Loop drop-in center, we’ve noticed community members are being referred to The Stir for immediate, or downstream, help. Going out of your way to ask for help, only to realize you’ve been directed somewhere that can’t offer you what you need, can be tiring, upsetting, and even harmful.
Food Policy Work VS Frontline Work
Frontline Services
Frontline Services
Provide immidiate relief, including:
Food & Water
Harm Reduction
Hygiene Supplies
Clothing
Shelter
Personal Advocacy and Referrals
One on One Support for Individuals and Families
Food Policy Councils
Food Policy Councils
Policy advocacy and systems change including:
Delegations to different levels of government
Public campaigns regarding policy and systems change
Public education opportunities and campaigns
Programming that models our ideal vision of the food system, to create grassroots change with the help of volunteers; e.g.
Butler Urban Farm - a food commons anyone can access 24/7
Gleaning Abundance Program - relocating privately owned food assets, like fruit trees, to the commons
The Stir - Shared infrastructure to bolster local food in our conventional food system and supply chain
The Community Pantry - a small pantry stocked by the community, for the community
While not a frontline service provider, we do offer programming and and resources including the COMMUNITY MEAL CALENDAR and CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD ASSETS MAP. You can check out our local resources and food security pages to learn more.
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