Food Policy Council vs. Food Systems Alliance: What's the Difference? -

Food Policy Council vs. Food Systems Alliance: What's the Difference?

Written by: River Rush

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a Food Policy Council (FPC) vs. a Food Systems Alliance? If so, you are not alone! This is one of the most commonly asked questions we receive as a Council. While both work toward creating a better, more sustainable, and equitable food system, they play different but complementary roles. This blog post will define the difference between the two and clarify the important work being done by each in London-Middlesex.

What is a Food Policy Council?

A Food Policy Council, such as the Middlesex London Food Policy Council (MLFPC) focuses on policy development, education and community engagement at the local level. Within the London-Middlesex region, MLFPC aims to unite partners across the food system to evaluate food-related challenges and advocate for policy changes.

Taking MLFPC as an example, let’s break down what exactly this FPC works to achieve. The MLFPC operates through a constellation of committees and working groups that work together and independently to forward the vision and mission of the Council. The mission of MLFPC can be broken down into five main aims:

To be a forum for discussing local food issues
To empower citizens to be involved in food system decisions
To foster coordination between sectors in the food system
To create, evaluate, and influence policy
And to support programs and services that address local needs

To achieve these aims, the following committees and working groups operate within the MLFPC.

Communications Committee – works to share information and stories to connect people and inspire awareness and action on relevant topics.
Finance and Fund Development Committee – works towards securing resources and funding to support the work of the Council
Political Advocacy Committee – works on advocacy and policy recommendations that advance food security in our region
Community Engagement Committee – plans a range of events annually to unite partners from across the food system
Food Systems Champion Working Group – works to recognize and celebrate individuals and organizations contributing meaningfully to our local food system in London-Middlesex.

What is a Regional Food Systems Alliance?

On a broader scale, the Food Alliance seeks system-level change within a larger region beyond only London and Middlesex County. By bringing together organizations, institutions, businesses, and individuals around a shared vision, the Regional Food Systems Alliance fosters collaboration across the entire food system.

While the Middlesex London Food Policy Council focuses on the London-Middlesex region, it also serves as the backbone organization for the Alliance, which extends beyond municipal boundaries and welcomes participation from neighbouring regions and communities that share a commitment to strengthening regional food systems.

In terms of its vision, the Regional Food Systems Alliance envisions a thriving local food economy that:

stewards ecosystems
fosters rural, urban, and Indigenous connections
is rooted in food security
coordinates equitable and sustainable access to regionally produced food

To advance this collective vision, the Regional Food Systems Alliance is organized into five advisory groups, with MLFPC providing ongoing coordination and support. Seeking system-level change within Southwestern Ontario, the Regional Food Systems Alliance aims to drive collaboration within many different elements of our food system in order to advance this collective vision.

A circular diagram divided into five pie-shaped sections representing the advisory groups of the Regional Food Security Alliance. Each section is color-coded and includes a goal and related actions: Yellow (Local Food Economy): Goal – Strengthen local/regional supply chains Actions – Increase local food procurement; Create a local/regional food procurement strategy/action plan Green (Agriculture): Goal – Strengthen local/regional supply chains Actions – Coordinate and support the creation of sustainable business plans for food producers to increase local food distribution Blue (Access and Distribution): Goal – Food sovereignty and equity Actions – Develop a community-wide vision and coordinated plan for equitable access Red (Food Policy and Advocacy): Goal – Coordinate and amplify advocacy at all government levels Action – Advocate on behalf of other working groups Orange (Public Engagement): Goal – Increase food literacy Actions – Develop a public engagement strategy and a coordinated community-wide agri-food education strategy/action plan At the center is a semi-transparent circle labeled "Backbone Organization (MLFPC)", with a black arrow pointing to text: "Connect/coordinate, Communicate, Evaluate, Report" — highlighting MLFPC’s coordinating role. — Regional Food Alliance advisory groups with associated goals and actions.

Working Together for a Better Food System

The Middlesex London Food Policy Council and the Regional Food Systems Alliance are separate but interconnected initiatives. As noted above, MLFPC serves as the backbone organization for the Alliance, providing coordination, leadership, and administrative support. At the same time, the Council continues its own local work in policy development, advocacy, education, and community engagement. In many ways, the two initiatives strengthen one another by connecting local action with broader regional collaboration.

Food Policy Council vs. Food Systems Alliance: What’s the Difference?