A Comprehensive Evaluation of Food and Agricultural Policies in California General Plans

Abstract

Problem, research strategy and findings Agriculture and urban interests often compete fiercely for land and water, particularly in California. In this study we offer the first state-level assessment of planning for agriculture and food systems, with a focus on identifying competing and complementary policies that bridge rural and urban jurisdictions. We found that although Californian jurisdictions are not mandated to address water, food, or agriculture, all 325 city general plans evaluated included water policies, and most plans addressed agriculture (62%) and food (52%), but less than a fifth of the jurisdictions addressed nutrition (18%). Our results draw attention to mismatches in policy focus for food systems planning. For example, although agriculture and nutrition are related topics, we found that policies rarely overlapped, exemplifying an ideological rift between the political interests of food producers and consumers. We also found that plans set policy intentions, but rarely included implementation actions. Less than 20% of the identified policies provided metrics for success, a commitment to act within a given time frame, or identification of potential funding sources.Takeaway for practice There is a need to better interlink related concepts in planning, such as agriculture and food justice. We highlight examples here that incorporate whole- systems thinking to align related topics, address disconnects, and realize broader food justice aims.