The City of Minneapolis has joined the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact – an international protocol that seeks to develop food systems based on the principles of sustainability and social justice. Almost 160 cities have entered into the pact including Austin, Texas; Baltimore; Chicago; New York; San Francisco; London; Johannesburg, and Toronto.
By joining the pact, the city pledges to:
- Work to develop inclusive, sustainable food systems;
- Encourage interdepartmental coordination at municipal and community levels to integrate urban food policy considerations in all aspects of the city’s functions;
- Seek cohesion between local, state, national and international programs;
- Engage all sectors within the food system;
- Review and amend existing urban policies, plans, and regulations;
- Use the ‘Framework of Action’ provided by Milan Urban Food Policy organization; and,
- Encourage other cities to join the pact.
The ‘Framework of Action’ is a voluntary program that aims to provide strategic options for cities seeking to achieve a more sustainable food systems. It builds on the experience of other municipalities, while taking into account the diversity inherent within cities across the globe. Cities can select, adapt and group options into guidelines as necessary to suit their particular situations. Recommended actions include ensuring an enabling environment for effective action, promoting sustainable diets and nutrition, seeking social and economic equity, strengthening food production, food supply, and distribution, and reducing food waste.
In the past, Minneapolis formed citywide Homegrown Minneapolis initiative to expand the community’s ability to grow, process, distribute, eat, and compost more healthy, sustainable and locally grown food and established the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council to advise the mayor, City Council, and Park Board on food system-related opportunities and challenges.
