Institutional capacity of local government to embed food security into policy

Abstract

Food security policy making is on the agenda of a number of councils and manifests itself in various forms. This chapter primarily examines influential factors in the local government policy-making process when seeking to embed accessible and affordable culturally appropriate, fresh, healthy food, particularly for socially vulnerable groups. It also explores the diverse responses from councils in order to incorporate food security into policy. Although local government plays important roles in food insecurity solutions, legislative, resource and organizational mechanisms and practices limit local government activity. State and federal governments need to acknowledge the food security agenda as an important sustainability issue and provide inter-governmental support to local government initiatives through legislative provisions and increased funding.