Austin City Council adopted the Austin/Travis County Food Plan on Thursday, Oct. 10, marking a major milestone in the city of Austin's efforts to create a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient food system.

So, why is a food plan needed? Here are a few quick facts.

1.24 million pounds of food are wasted every day in the Capital City
14.4% of people in Travis County experience food insecurity
16.8 acres of farmland are lost each day in Travis County
Food is the culprit for 21% of all greenhouse gas emissions in our community
In Travis County, only ~0.06% of food consumed is produced locally

The plan — which outlines priorities over the next five years — was created through a multi-year process in which 3,600+ locals shared their visions for a revamped food system through workshops, discussion, and feedback.

The most common issue highlighted through community feedback? Access to food and affordability.

What's in the plan?

The food plan sets key objectives for the city's food system, from how food is grown and distributed to how it is consumed and recovered. Though the plan isn't a specific roadmap, it reveals the areas of focus for a transformed food system.

Here are the nine goals outlined:

Goal #1: Land
Focusing on expanding regenerative production and preserving agricultural lands, leaders hope to increase farmland and set the region up for long-term success.

Goal #2: Ownership
This goal centers around increasing equity and access to food by growing the amount of farms owned by economically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

Goal #3: Livelihoods
Local leaders want to improve farm and food worker conditions by strengthening safety nets, career pathways, and training and advancement opportunities.

Goal #4: Preparedness
This goal involves establishing and funding an emergency food provision system to ensure all community members can access "safe, nutritious, and culturally relevant food during disasters and emergencies."

Goal #5: Institutions
To bolster the percentage of menus sourced locally, this goal aims to create more sustainable supply chains.

Goal #6: Access
This goal revolves around removing barriers to food access and expanding food distribution to community members who experience food insecurity.

Goal #7: Food recovery
Officials intend to divert surplus food and non-edible food waste from local landfills, creating a circular food economy.

Goal #8: Pro-climate, pro-health
By raising awareness around the benefit of a nutritious diet, this effort would reduce the environmental impact of our local food system.

Goal #9: Empower
This goal is all about providing community education, as well as increasing funding, collecting data, and securing partnerships to put the food plan into action across the city of Austin and Travis County.

What's next?

The Travis County Commissioners Court is set to vote on the plan in the next few weeks. In Austin, City Council has tasked City Manager T.C. Broadnax with divvying out responsibilities among leadership, prioritizing strategies, securing funding, and implementing the plan.

Local officials plan to return to Austin City Council in March 2025 with an update.

Ready to dig in? Read the full food plan.