This map is from a report and webinar that offers a snapshot of national trends, and a directory of participatory food systems plans and charters that exist at state and regional levels across the US. It is intended to facilitate network building and co-learning among practitioners leading these efforts and groups interested in launching their own plans and charters. We collected information from publicly available websites and followed up with lead organizations to review information relevant to their state. We looked for plans and charters that: a) are systems-based and cross-sector (covering the entire food system); b) propose visions beyond 2021, and c) were participatory and collaboratively developed (those that engaged multiple stakeholders and crowdsourced ideas across their state or multi-state region). In addition to finding that nearly 60% of states have food systems plans or one under development, we found that: Michigan was among the earliest to launch a Good Food Charter, in 2010; universities and multi-institutional partnerships are leading two-thirds of efforts; government agencies are leading only 19% of plans and charters, but 48% are being funded, in part, by state government, 10% by local government and the majority (62%) by foundations; and participatory strategies used to develop these plans and charters include summits, working groups, public meetings, interviews/focus groups, workshops and surveys.
Project Team: Lilly Fink Shapiro, Kathryn Colasanti, Alex Judelsohn, Mrithula Shantha, Thirumalai Anandanpillai, Keerthana Vidyasagar
Sponsors: MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, Kellogg Foundation