Austin and Travis County Develop Comprehensive Regional Food Plan to Address Food Insecurity and Sustainability

The City of Austin and Travis County are making strides towards creating a comprehensive regional food plan, a venture that only a few communities nationwide have undertaken. Led by Edwin Marty, the food policy manager with the city’s Office of Sustainability, the plan has been in the works for two years and sets out the vision and policy goals for the next five years.

The food plan focuses on key areas such as preserving farmland in Travis County, supporting local agricultural production, improving access to nutritious food, and expanding food sustainability initiatives. Currently, Austin wastes approximately 1.24 million pounds of food each day, with only 0.06% of food consumed in Travis County being produced locally. The county’s food insecurity rate stands at 14.4%, surpassing the national average of 12.8%.

The draft food plan has been developed with the input of over 3,600 participants and includes nine goals and 62 strategies to address food and agricultural access issues. Some of the goals outlined in the plan include increasing community food production, expanding access to land for regenerative food production, and improving the livelihoods of farm workers and food workers.

Travis County Commissioners Court will hold a work session on the draft food plan on August 8, with a voting session scheduled for later next month. The Austin City Council is expected to vote on and adopt the food plan at its meeting on August 29. The complete draft plan is available online for review.

This initiative aims to create a more sustainable and equitable food system in Austin and Travis County, focusing on addressing food insecurity, supporting local farmers, and reducing food waste. With only a handful of communities across the country tackling such a comprehensive food plan, Austin and Travis County are leading the way towards a more resilient and inclusive food system for all residents.