Food System Plan, Food Action Plan, Food and Nutrition Security Plan, Food Access Plan—these terms are often used interchangeably, but do they mean the same thing? In many cases, a plan’s title reflects the unique priorities, values, and vision of the community it serves. While the specific goals, strategies, and stakeholder engagement approaches may differ, the planning process itself often follows a shared foundation.
At New Venture Advisors, our approach to developing food system plans follows a structured, collaborative process. We begin by building on existing baseline data—such as food system or landscape assessments—and work closely with our clients to co-create a plan framework that reflects local needs and aspirations. Throughout the planning process, we engage community members and stakeholders to ensure that the goals and actions in the final plan are well-vetted, achievable, cross-sector informed, and designed to make a meaningful impact.
Whether you’re developing a comprehensive food system plan that covers all major sectors, focusing on a key issue such as food access and security, or guiding investments in areas like food as medicine, the planning process follows the same core approach.
Our Food System Planning Packages are based on this fundamental framework; however, there are a few dimensions to food system planning that may require additional analysis. For example, disaster preparedness plans are built from distribution models and mapping that are not included in a typical food system assessment. Similarly, social network analysis requires a specific form of community engagement and analysis to augment the food system assessment. These require customized work plans and may add time and cost to the project, but can be extremely valuable additions to the planning process.
If you are exploring a food system planning project for your community, we would be glad to help you evaluate the options available. Contact us to set up a call!
