Policy Briefing: The State of Farm to School and ECE Local Food Purchasing Incentives

January 9, 2025 2:00PM - 3:00PM

Join National Farm to School Network (NFSN) and Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) for a policy briefing on the state of farm to school and Early Care and Education (ECE) local food purchasing incentives (LFPIs). These policies are reshaping school meal programs while supporting local economies, enhancing student nutrition, and strengthening communities.

This webinar will provide a broad high-level overview for advocates, policymakers, agency staff, and food system champions. Attendees will gain an understanding of how state-level LFPIs work, research-backed benefits of these policies, and the extent to which states fund these programs. Researchers will share the landscape of LFPI models, including farmer-focused strategies, ways to incorporate ECEs, and how some states are designing programs to uplift values-based purchasing. Participants will also learn how effective partnerships and efficient administration can support successful LFPIs.

The USDA has committed $660 million to schools and childcare sites over the next three years for the second round of the Local Food for Schools (LFS) Cooperative Agreement program, marking it as the largest nationwide LFPI to date. Learn about models states used to implement the first round of LFS, how this program can and has intersected with state-level LFPIs, and design pathways for states to include ECEs in the next application round.

The webinar will conclude with updates from NFSN and MSU CRFS on their plans to support LFPIs and LFS in 2025, and a 15-minute Q&A session.

Learn more about LFPIs through these resources: https://foodsystems.msu.edu/lfpis 

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Center for Regional Food Systems

Food System Infrastructure, Planning and Policy

Michigan Good Food

Farm to Institution/School

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