Pennsylvania Food Policy Council

The Pennsylvania Food Policy Council, established in December 2022 by Executive Order 2022-05, is an important policy initiative of the Shapiro administration. Tasked with evaluating and advancing solutions to issues facing Pennsylvania’s food system, the council will develop and implement strategies to improve food and nutrition security, public health, environmental sustainability and stewardship, local food economies, and to reduce food waste. 

Food is a basic human right. The Pennsylvania Food Policy Council grows out of the Commonwealth's ongoing commitment to strengthening our food system. It is also a direct response to calls from food systems leaders across the state to deepen collaboration and impact on critical food systems challenges impacting PA residents, communities, and businesses.

The council will coordinate interagency and stakeholder group leaders around communication and action needed to support healthy, equitable, sustainable, and fair food systems for all Pennsylvanians. Together, these efforts aim to support food sovereignty, which is defined as the right of Pennsylvania residents to healthy, culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agricultural system.