RCE North Texas - 2022

North Texas Food Policy Alliance
Basic Information
Title of project : 
North Texas Food Policy Alliance
Submitting RCE: 
RCE North Texas
Contributing organization(s) : 
University of Texas at Arlington and RCE North Texas
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Meghna Tare
Organizational Affiliation: 
University of Texas at Arlington
E-mail: 
Format of project: 
Audio Visual, White Paper, Designs
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Monday, August 8, 2022
Additional resources: 
The North Texas Food Policy Alliance is launched and established by the University of Texas at
Arlington and RCE North texas. According to The Food Policy Networks (FPN), a project of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF), less than 5% of all the Food Policy Councils in the U.S. are embedded within
universities and academic institutions

The 16 counties in the North Central Texas region covered by this Partnership include: Collin, Dallas,
Denton, Ellis, Erath, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell,
Tarrant, and Wise. These 16 counties of North Texas encompass a diverse, vibrant demographic and
economic region. Having grown dramatically over the past forty years, North Texas is about to become
more heavily populated with population projections more than doubling from the current 7.2 million
residents by the year 2050. In this rapid growth scenario, all sectors of the region have grave concerns
which prompt the question, “How will North Texas fare as it confronts the diverse population
projections together with the associated environmental, economic, and social challenges that are sure
to follow?”

One in seven Texans experienced food insecurity before the pandemic. Five million Texans—the highest
of any state—live in food deserts, one of the highest rates in the US. A third of Texans are overweight
because of imbalanced diet and therefore at risk of obesity, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular
disease. Women, children, people of color, refugees and vulnerable groups are disproportionately
affected. In Texas, small farmers, ranchers and small agri-food businesses were struggling even before
the pandemic, because they received only 15 cents of every dollar spent on food. Of particular note,
that 15 cents on the dollar is less than half of what farmers were receiving for their goods 20 years ago.
Only 8% of food grown locally is sold locally; the rest travels long distances throughout the United
States. US food imports have nearly doubled in the past 10 years. A third of all food is wasted, while
millions struggle with food insecurity. Limited access to fresh, healthy food is a complex challenge that
calls for comprehensive, coordinated solutions.

In 2010, UT Arlington partnered with North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) on Vision
North Texas (VNT), a private, public and academic partnership created to serve as a forum for dialogue
and action on the important issues of population growth, environmental, economic, and social
challenges. The VNT resultant report, North Texas 2050, presented the following recommendations that
align and support the goals and objectives of the NTFPA:
● Support locally grown food and local agriculture in North Texas.
● Produce a package of ‘healthy community’ recommendations for consideration by North Texas
counties, cities and towns.
● North Texas counties, cities and towns should create a regional network of healthy community
action plans to implement these recommendations.
OMB No. 0581-0240
● Develop strategies that increase youth involvement in growing, preparing and marketing
nutritious food.
● Begin work on new tools to implement regional, natural asset initiatives. The role of natural
assets in the region’s targeted future will require the use of new analytical tools and regional
collaborations. The regional transfer of development rights, the use of a regional conservancy to
operate and manage conservation easements region-wide, and the incentives developed and
sustained for production of food close to the region will all involve extensive dialogue and
research.

The North Texas 2050 report is available online:
https://www.developmentexcellence.com/SharedMedia/DevelopmentExcellence/documents/North_Te
xas_2050.pdf)

Food Policy
At what level is the policy operating?: 
Local
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Americas
Country: 
United States
Location(s): 
Wise, Denton, Collin, Parker, Tarrant, Dallas, Rockwall, Johnson, Ellis, Kaufman
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Office of Sustainability,
University of Texas at Arlington
601 W. Nedderman Drive # 105
Arlington, TX 76019
Box 19333
Ecosystem(s):
Target Audience:
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
exas is known the world over for its friendliness and southern hospitality, and for a frontier ethos of taking risks in hopes of big rewards. Cattle ranching, cotton farming and the discovery of oil made Texas an economic and development powerhouse. Today, technology, banking, telecommunications and research ensures Texas is at the forefront of growth. Texas is situated at the edge of the western frontier and stretches into the American Southwest of the United States. Being so large has contributed to a distinctly independent streak. Texas was even an independent republic for some time after gaining independence from Mexico and before joining the United States of America. This spirit of independence even extends to electrical power generation, transmission and distribution, whereby Texas is the only state in the nation to maintain its own electrical power grid. Compared to most states, Texas is physically enormous. As the second most populous state in the nation, the region of North Texas alone has a larger population than most of the other fifty states. North Texas is home to more than 10,000 U.S. corporate business headquarters, which is the highest concentration of headquarters within the United States. This includes being home to 22 of the top Fortune 500 US corporations, spanning 13 industries and fields of business. Some private- sector stakeholders such as PepsiCo have been based in the region for decades; other corporations are newcomers to the region, such as Toyota’s American headquarters.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
One in seven Texans experienced food insecurity before the pandemic. Five million Texans—the highest of any state—live in food deserts, one of the highest rates in the US.

- A third of Texans are overweight because of imbalanced diet and therefore at risk of obesity, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Women, children, people of color, refugees and vulnerable groups are disproportionately affected.

- In Texas, small farmers, ranchers, and small agri-food businesses were struggling even before the pandemic, because they received only 15 cents of every dollar spent on food. Of note, that 15 cents on the dollar is less than half of what farmers were receiving for their goods 20 years ago.

- Only 8% of food grown locally is sold locally, the rest travels long distances throughout the United States. US food imports have nearly doubled in the past 10 years.

- A third of all food is wasted, while millions struggle with food insecurity. Limited access to fresh, healthy food is a complex challenge that calls for comprehensive, coordinated solutions.

North Texas is about to become more heavily populated with population projections more than doubling from the current 7.2 million residents by the year 2050.

- In this rapid growth scenario, all sectors of the region have grave concerns which prompt the question, “How will North Texas fare as it confronts the diverse population projections together with the associated environmental, economic, and social challenges that are sure to follow?”

- Only 2% of Food Policy Councils/Alliances are embedded in Academic Institutions.
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
March, 2021
Rationale: 
Mission- Our Mission is to foster regional collaboration to develop sustainable and equitable food systems in North Texas.

Vision- We envision a North Texas with a sustainable and equitable food system that will end hunger and ensure health and well-being for all.

Link to our Strategic Plan Document
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IASaVxRqkyqADw9aZW0VPGPZ_zczTAFW9Vfoqaai6c4/edit#

A sustainable food system (SFS) is a food system that delivers food security and nutrition for all in such a way that the economic, social and environmental bases to generate food security and nutrition for future generations are not compromised. This means that:
It is profitable throughout (economic sustainability);
It has broad-based benefits for society (social sustainability); and
It has a positive or neutral impact on the natural environment (environmental sustainability).

The NTFPA overarching goal is to better understand food systems in the North Texas Region and to begin planning and Supporting a regional food system through local and regional partnerships. This is accomplished through local discussions and assessments as well as through a regional gathering of stakeholders aimed toward:
1. Developing a baseline for understanding the regional food system.
2. Examining economic opportunities for strategic investments and funding needs of the region.
3. Obtaining an “outside-in” research approach by designing the research and recommendations
around the underserved communities’ needs and recommendations.
4. Creating a sense of shared ownership and equity principles for the region and the stakeholders
that make up the food system; and
5. Creating a regional asset mapping of all resources such as farm, community gardens, food
pantries, population, and more, including County Profiles and Policy Toolkits for each county
that will include major findings from the assessment in addition to a policy toolkit and a
resource toolkit for local advocates to utilize in their work
Objectives: 
Strategic Plan
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IASaVxRqkyqADw9aZW0VPGPZ_zczTAFW9Vfoqaai6c4/edit#

GOAL 1 (organization success) SDG 17
The North Texas Food Policy Alliance will develop and convene a high-functioning collective of diverse stakeholders to create a cross-sectoral impact in North Texas food systems.

GOAL 2 (education & awareness) - SDG 4 & 11
The North Texas Food Policy Alliance will broaden, educate, and engage diverse participation of North Texas residence to advocate for more equitable and sustainable food policies.

GOAL 3 (access to resources) SDG 2, 3, 4, 11
The North Texas Food Policy Alliance will increase and diversify participation in the North Texas food system.

GOAL 4 (research) SDG 4
The North Texas Food Policy Alliance will curate research and develop a new multi-institutional research agenda to support more informed and equitable decision-making around food systems and food policy in North Texas.





Activities and/or practices employed: 
Globally, the UN’s Food Systems Summit in 2021 brought together science, business, healthcare and academic communities with farmers, Indigenous people, youth, local governments, and others to accelerate the Decade of Action for the SDGs. In the U.S Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is leading much of this work with partners to ensure the voice of cities, towns and counties is represented. At the same time in the U.S., the Federal Administration is leading a series of dialogues, led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). A North Texas Local Food Dialogue on Inclusive Food Systems, hosted by University of Texas at Arlington and International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) was a regional summit for official contribution from cities and counties to the proceedings. We aimed to collate interests, issues, and priorities of local governments — including on food sustainability, security and resilience — in order to submit the outcomes to both FAO at the global level and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) within the U.S.

The exchanges at the event aimed:

To highlight the role that local governments and other organizations are playing in improving their urban food systems as well as identify key food systems challenges, opportunities and priorities

To generate discussions, action and commitments from local stakeholders on food systems reforms to achieve the SDGS and the health and wellbeing of people and the planet. These will feed into the UNFSS processes such as game changing solutions (“actionable messages”)

To connect these dialogues with the national UNFSS Member States Summit Dialogues and involve Ministries as well as other strategic stakeholders working with the cities (e.g. UN bodies, organizations with consolidated work track on food with respective cities).

To contribute as a UN Food Systems Summit Independent Summit Dialogue and connect this U.S. event with those happening nationally.

To achieve a lasting collaboration on urban food systems in support of the RCE North Texas and North Texas Food Policy Alliance (NTFPA).

Besides these NTFPA has hosted
1) Educational Meetings https://sustainability.uta.edu/ntfpa/north-texas-food-policy-alliance-2022-meeting/
2) Applied for USDA Funding https://sustainability.uta.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/USDA-Grant-July-2021.pdf
3) Issue Quarterly Newsletter for all organizations and Members of the RCE North Texas https://sustainability.uta.edu/ntfpa/ntfpa-newsletters/
4) Created a Tools And Resources Pages for members to access https://sustainability.uta.edu/ntfpa/tools-for-members/
5) Supported the Youth and organizations through Service Learning Project Partnerships https://sustainability.uta.edu/ntfpa/get-engaged-and-resources/

Size of academic audience: 
Dallas Fort Worth Region ( North Texas)
Results: 
https://vimeo.com/599672749/9b24b12f49 (the entire recording on the summit was shared with the participants and other community members

The Transcripts of the discussion was shared as a Policy Paper with the Biden Administration/USDA and others and also shared via newsletters ( Attached)

Award Letter by NACUBO for this Project ( attached)
EPA Award https://sustainability.uta.edu/about/awards/

Lessons learned: 
Collaboration and Capacity Building is important to address the regional food challenges

Education and sharing of knowledge and expertise through such summits and conferences is key to implementing solutions for equitable and resilient food systems in North Texas
Key messages: 
Food systems touch every aspect of human existence. The health of our food systems profoundly affects the health of our bodies, as well as the health of our environment, our economies and our cultures. Equitable and Resilient food systems have the power to bring us together as communities.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
This Projects supports SDG #2 and SDG#11 Sustainable Cities and Communities Goal.
All the participants in this Alliance and the summit are members of the RCE North Texas
The participating organizations were
American Heart Association
Blue Zones Project Fort Worth
City of Dallas
City of Denton
City of Lewisville
City of Plano
EPA Region 6
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
FEED Oak Cliff
Healthy Tarrant County Collaboration
North Central Texas Council of Governments
Nexus PMG- Private Sector
North Texas Food Bank
Restorative Farms Dallas
Schneider Electric
Southern Methodist University
Tarrant County Food Policy Council
Tarrant Area Food Bank
Texas A&M AgriLife Research Dallas Center
Turn Compost
UNT Health Science Center
City of Farmers Branch
Funding: 
In kind time and support was provided by University of Texas at Arlington and RCE North Texas

RCE North Texas hired a Graphic Facilitator to capture the meeting notes and message. It is posted on the UTA Sustainability, RCE North Texas, and North Texas Food Policy Alliance Website

https://sustainability.uta.edu/rce/
https://sustainability.uta.edu/rce/north-texas-local-food-dialogue-on-inclusive-food-systems/

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon North Texas Local Food Dialogue Welcome.jpg (542.1 KB) North Texas Local Food Dialogue Welcome North Texas Local Food Dialogue Panel 1
Image icon North Texas Local Food Dialogue Panel 1.jpg (679.24 KB)
Image icon North Texas Local Food Dialogue Panel 2.jpg (661.19 KB) North Texas Local Food Dialogue Panel 2
Image icon North Texas Local Food Dialogue Breakout Summary.jpg (552.73 KB) North Texas Local Food Dialogue Breakout Summary
Image icon North Texas Local Food Dialogue Breakout Reflections.jpg (354.12 KB) North Texas Local Food Dialogue Breakout Reflections
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Direct
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Indirect
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Direct
SDG 16 - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 
Indirect
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Direct
Theme
Traditional Knowledge  
Direct
Agriculture 
Direct
Curriculum Development 
Direct
Forests/Trees 
Indirect
Waste 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Developing capacities of educators and trainers 
state: 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
No
I acknowledge the above: 
Yes