The Food Policy Audit: A New Tool for Community Food System Planning

The Food Policy Audit was developed in response to the growing need for tools to assist in the food planning process and was piloted in a graduate urban and environmental planning course at the University of Virginia. The audit proceeded in two phases: phase one consisted of 113 yes-or-no research questions regarding the existence of food-based policy relating to public health, economic development, environmental impacts, social equity, and land conservation; phase two confirmed the validity of phase one's results through a series of stakeholder meetings. The meetings also provided insight into the success of policies and initiatives currently in place, community attitudes and perceptions, and community priorities for moving forward. The Food Policy Audit process proved educationally beneficial to both students and community members, and provided a policy-based tool for communities interested in shaping a more sustainable and resilient food system.