The Washington State Food Policy Forum (Forum) has convened since 2016 to understand and respond to challenges and opportunities facing Washington’s food system. Forum members range across the political spectrum and come from almost all sectors of the state’s food system. Members have a breadth of knowledge and experiences, and this combination has evolved into a more collaborative and robust partnership which is evident in the accomplishments during the past two years.
The Forum finalized its charter in 2022, which articulates the Forum’s goals, including those mandated by statute and goals regarding equity and the impacts of climate change. The Charter’s managing principles serve as a strong foundation for tackling tough state-wide and cross-sectoral issues.
The Forum engaged in new ways in 2022 by selecting three areas of emphasis for the year. Three teams were formed to explore the issues of land use, the farm bill, and state brand and marketing.
The Informing Land Use Policy team hosted a public listening session to inform the development of 11 recommendations. The recommendations included: Urban Infill, City Annexation and UGA Expansion, Mitigation of Lost Farmland, Limited Area of More Intense Rural Development (LAMIRD), Impact of Public Land Acquisition Projects, Water Availability, Solar Siting, Permanent Protection of Farmland, Conservation Programs, Support for Local Governments, and Urban Agriculture.
The federal farm bill, an omnibus, 5-year law governing an array of agriculture and food programs, is up for reauthorization in 2023. The Farm Bill team hosted a webinar for Washington’s Congressional delegation to review the Forum’s Farm Bill 2023 Recommendations in June of 2023.
