North Austin News

The Austin City Council has approved the Austin/Travis County Food Plan, signifying a significant move towards fostering an equitable and sustainable food system in the region. This newly adopted plan comprises nine goals and 61 strategies aimed at enhancing various facets of the food system, such as food access, local agriculture, food recovery, and emergency preparedness.

This comprehensive plan is the result of years of collaborative efforts involving thousands of community members. It was developed with input from these individuals to create a shared vision for transforming the regional food system. The City of Austin partnered with Travis County to ensure the plan's applicability across different communities in the area. A vote by the Travis County Commissioners Court on this plan is anticipated in the upcoming weeks.

Zach Baumer, Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Austin, commented on this development: “The adoption of this food plan marks a critical milestone in Austin’s journey toward a more sustainable and equitable future. This plan addresses urgent issues like food insecurity and climate change, creating a roadmap for a resilient food system that benefits everyone in our community.”

The Austin/Travis County Food Plan provides a detailed framework to coordinate efforts throughout the region's food system—from production and distribution to consumption and recovery. More than 3,600 individuals participated in workshops and feedback sessions during its development. The process was guided by a Community Advisory Committee alongside city and county staff, supported by Community Food Ambassadors who ensured representation from those most affected by local food issues.

Key objectives outlined in the plan include promoting regenerative food production to sustain ecosystems, building resilience within food systems against future challenges, and investing in an equitable local economy that supports farmers and workers. Additionally, it emphasizes eradicating food insecurity by improving access to nutritious foods while reducing environmental impacts associated with current practices.

As implementation begins, collaboration among local governments, nonprofits, businesses, community organizations, and residents will be essential for success. An implementation action team is already active to oversee progress over the next five years through continuous measurement and reporting.

For further details on this initiative or to read the full plan text, interested parties can visit the official website dedicated to the Austin/Travis County Food Plan.

About Austin's Office of Sustainability: This office aims to ensure an ecologically resilient community by leading initiatives that achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 while fostering a just local food system among other sustainability projects.