 The Urban Farm Zoning and Planning Task Force just released their report From the Ground Up: Planning and Zoning for Urban Agriculture in Greater Kansas City. The report is a tool for urban planners, city staff, urban farmers and advocates to use to address the biggest barriers to urban agriculture in the Kansas City region.
The first section of this report gives an overview of urban agriculture and its benefits. The second section provides best practices and resources to plan for urban agriculture. The third section outlines seven barriers and offers policy recommendations and case studies to support urban agriculture. The Greater KC Food Policy Coalition established the task force in April 2020 to improve community food security by identifying and advocating for planning and zoning policies that ensure urban farmers are able to operate successfully. Moving forward, the report will inform the coalition's work to advocate for policy change. If you'd like to join us in advocating for urban agriculture, fill out this form and we'll be in touch.  Until today, Missouri was one of the few states that did not participate in the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Thanks to State Rep. Martha Stevens, State Sen. Lauren Arthur and advocates across the state, legislation establishing the program passed as an amendment to House Bill 432.
WIC FMNP is a federally funded program that provides WIC participants with coupons to purchase fresh, local fruits and vegetables at farmers markets. It puts healthy food within reach for moms and kids while injecting federal dollars into local economies across Missouri. "This bill is a win for families, farmers, and local economies around the state," Stevens said. "This measure provides direct support for women and children and helps address the serious issue of food insecurity in our state." WIC participants include low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children up to 5 years of age who are found to be at nutritional risk. Feeding America estimates over 290,000 Missouri kids were food insecure in 2020. House Bill 432 also establishes the Missouri Food Security Task Force to make recommendations to improve food access and ensure food security for urban and rural communities.  Here are 10 ways you can speak out for good food policy in Kansas City today and everyday.
 Join the Greater KC Food Policy Coalition and community partners across Missouri for Good Food Policy Advocacy Day on Wednesday, April 8. Why? Because small-scale farmers, restaurant and food service workers, food banks and pantries and food insecure families are struggling.
 We are disappointed that the United States Department of Agriculture has proposed a new rule that, if enacted, would roll back school nutrition standards established in 2012. The proposed rule would allow schools to serve fewer fruits and whole grains, reduce the variety of vegetables and offer less healthy entrees. The USDA’s own research has shown that the 2012 nutrition standards improved student diets and increased student participation in school meals.
 KC Healthy Kids, the Greater KC Food Policy Coalition and many of our partners opposed a public charge rule change that would make it challenging for some immigrants to access nutrition, health care and housing assistance. Despite an outpouring of opposition from the public and several legal challenges, the rule change went into effect today. We believe the rule change will seriously harm the health and well being of immigrants and their communities. Keep reading to learn more about public charge, who is affected and how you can take action.
 Small actions like calling, clicking or attending an event make a big impact on our efforts to see that all people in greater Kansas City will have access to healthy affordable food that nourishes individuals, communities, the local economy and the environment. Here’s what you can do!
 Step up your food advocacy efforts and help the Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition keep our local food system strong.
 The Missouri General Assembly is considering legislation that would limit access to SNAP benefits (food stamps). Senate Bill 4, sponsored by Senator David Sader would threaten to take away SNAP from more than 45,000 households across the state. Now is the time to speak out!
 Last month Congress passed a new, $867 billion Farm Bill with bi-partisan support. The House vote was 369-47 (16 members not voting), and the Senate vote was 87-13. All but one of the Kansas and Missouri legislators voted in favor of the bill. Representative Vicki Hartzler (R) of Missouri was one of the 16 legislators who did not vote.
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