The Food Policy Council voted on our 2026 priorities. In 2026, rather than setting priorities for individual working groups, we’ve set priorities across the Food Policy Council in two categories — food system priorities and transparency and data sharing priorities.
Food System Priorities
- Develop strategy for reaching 20 acres of urban farmland in the District, including strengthening land lease, building equity in Urban Farm Tax Abatement, and leveraging private, public, and federal land
- Unified business licensing and approval platform to include farmers markets, vendors, and food businesses
- Move District agencies towards food donation, food waste reduction, and food scrap collection
- Passage and funding of the Procurement Amendment Act to lead to transparency and improved values-based purchasing
- Minimize negative impacts of federal benefits changes to District resident food access
- Evaluate nutrition education needs after the end of SNAP Ed and prepare for the 1115 Food as Medicine Waiver implementation
- Develop a food retail strategy that incorporates existing initiatives and community input
Transparency & Data Sharing Priorities
- Create a District food system data dashboard, incorporating data around purchasing, production, food distribution and food waste
- Update DC urban agriculture map and develop clear process for updating annually
- Create resource directories including map, list, and calendar for
- Farm education opportunities
- Nutrition education opportunities
- Roadmaps for cottage food businesses, food vendors, and other food business microenterprises
- Resources for share tables disseminated to DC Public and Charter Schools
- Compile food access resources and promote existing resources including locally, federally, and philanthropically-funded resources