This paper, by Wendy Mendes of the University of British Columbia, is intended to familiarize the reader with a sustainability approach to the implementation of healthy food policies.

Sustainability policies reflect decisions that touch social, economic, cultural and environmental concerns. Given the complex nature of food systems, decisions are necessarily multidimensional, often calling for responsibility from different levels of government, health authorities, not-for-profit organizations and other community stakeholders. Coordinating these different roles as well as resources is a challenge to implementing sustainability policies. There are several examples with respect to food policies that illustrate this challenge. The paper also describes four factors that facilitate the implementation of sustainable food policies.

Enabling Sustainability Policy and Planning at the Local Level: The Example of Food Policy
8 pages