The Food, Climate, and Policy Roundtable
How does climate change and policy impact our food systems? What can we do about it?
On June 14th, local organizations and individuals met for a roundtable to discuss these topics. The event began with a lightning round where each of the five organizations briefly introduced their topic.
Liz Murphy of FoodWIse presented how climate change and weather disasters impact food insecurity.
Val Dantoin, educator in NWTC’s Sustainable Food and Agriculture program and farmer at Full Circle Community Farm, presented on the effects of climate on food growers.
Laurel Last of Green Bay Citizens’ Climate Lobby and Wisconsin Conservation Voters presented on food waste and what we can do to mitigate it.
Crystal Brown of Clean Water Action Council of Northeast Wisconsin presented on climate impacts on water.
Lynn Walter of New Leaf Foods presented on the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet.
After the lightning round, there were three sessions where individuals could choose tables of interest to further discuss that organization’s topic. Discussion was heavily focused on actionable steps we can take to address the issues. Attendees were encouraged to share their knowledge, ideas, hopes, concerns, and perspectives.
The discussions were lively, informative, and generated a lot of ideas. Individuals learned from one another about actions they could take, other organizations and programs in the area, and useful online resources to learn more. The actionable steps generated ranged from small everyday actions one person can take to greater organizational efforts to large policy changes at the federal government level.
If you weren’t able to make it, don’t worry! Here’s a summary of each of the topics along with the ideas and solutions generated by roundtable participants.
Climate Change and Food Insecurity
1 in 10 Wisconsin residents experienced food insecurity in 2024. Unfortunately, climate volatility (a result of climate change) leads to fluctuating and increasing food prices which makes it even more difficult for those already experiencing food insecurity to access nutritious food.
So what can we do? What can you do if you are facing food insecurity? If you are not, what can you do to help those who are?
Eat local and support food sovereignty and independence
Although local growers and food producers are also affected by supply chain changes and pricing fluctuations, they often have more stable prices than the larger food system. Support them year round so they can continue operating, growing their businesses, and supplying food for our area residents. Supporting local growers also impacts your own food sovereignty which is the right “to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and [peoples’] right to define their own food and agriculture systems” (definition from U.S. Food Sovereignty Alliance).
One participant mentioned how some CSA programs accept EBT supplementation scholarships or offer worker shares in exchange for a box of veggies. It was also noted that some area farmers markets have Double Your Bucks programs for individuals with food assistance to receive more fresh produce and groceries.
Educate and inform others
Have conversations with others about food insecurity and healthy food access. Share resources and information.
Participants discussed several ways we can cut food expenses. Eating seasonally is one good option for both the environment and your budget as foods are typically cheapest when they are in season and abundant. Avoid eating out and cook more at home to save on food costs. Try growing a few foods at home whether that is a few herbs on your windowsill, a couple pepper plants in a grow bag on your porch, or regrowing scraps. One individual mentioned how green onions can easily be regrown in a glass of water so you can enjoy a second and even third harvest from a single purchase.
It’s also important to recognize the difference between food insecurity and nutrition insecurity. Being food secure means having access to food while being nutrition secure means having access to nutritious foods that support wellbeing.
Cook More at Home
One topic brought up during the discussion time was dining out. Participants reflected how we currently have a culture of eating at restaurants and fast food. Many are too busy to cook or too tired to make a meal. Others simply view cooking as a nuisance or unnecessary burden. How can we change this culture?
Individuals discussed how one cause is people simply don’t know how to cook. Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated or burdensome. It can be simple, meditative, or even artful. Look online for simple meals, one pot meals, or even one ingredient meals. One individual suggested simply cooking a sweet potato in the microwave and topping it with a little bit of butter for a cheap, quick, and delicious meal.
We can bring community into cooking! This can decrease the burden on individuals and bring more joy into the process. Community makes cooking more enjoyable and can help reduce the labor required. One individual suggested taking turns cooking for multiple people as it’s often easier to cook a larger meal for more people rather than cooking more meals for fewer people. Or you could organize a meal swap where everyone cooks a meal and shares a serving with others. With a meal swap, each person comes away with a serving of several meals to have variety throughout the week.
Advocate for Food Accessibility
One issue brought up during a breakout session was grocery stores being far away or only accessible by car. It’s important to have walkable neighborhoods or ways to get to grocery locations. Participate in city planning meetings and push for walkability. Another shared idea was to bring food to individuals through mobile food pantries and mobile farm stands.
Effects of Climate on Food Growers
A major climate change impact on farmers is wildly fluctuating rain. Too much rain can cause flooding, which can kill crops, make fields unworkable, and cause other damages. Too little rain is also an issue. Droughts slow the growth of crops and grazing plants for animals, possibly even killing plants if the drought persists for too long. Rain at the wrong time can also cause issues for farmers.
Climate change will likely persist as significant measures are not being taken to slow or stop this trend. Additionally, some programs to address this issue have been recently cut including the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Climate Smart Farming initiative.
Farming in Wisconsin will change over time, as a result of climate change. As the warm seasons become longer and hotter, Wisconsin will become more favorable for some crops including soybeans and unfavorable for others grown now. Livestock may face more health challenges as they have to deal with hotter temperatures and longer stretches of extreme heat. More mild winters can also increase the risk of pests and diseases that were previously killed during cold weather.
Connect, Connect, Connect
Connecting is critical! We need to connect farmers to institutions to policy makers and connect policy makers with farmers. If everyone works together, we can reach large solutions.
Get presenters to speak at Lions Clubs, Kiwanis International, Elks, Optimists, and other similar groups. Connect youth to food growers and food policy. Connect sustainable growers to markets and large buyers. One individual suggested bringing CSAs to nursing homes. Explore ways to form greater connections between local sustainable farmers and food pantries to bring local food to those who use these facilities.
Farmer to farmer connections are also important! Farmers should host regularly scheduled coffee klatches with other farmers.
People Power
We need more people power. Individuals who are passionate about this topic should step up to join committees, serve on organizations' boards of directors, and participate in other groups. With more people participating there is more fresh energy and new ideas addressing these issues. One participant pointed out that we should encourage young people to serve in these roles as many of the current members may be looking to resign from their positions.
Give Money
Many organizations have recently and unexpectedly lost funding and grants and are struggling to find their footing with the sudden change. Even if you can’t do anything else, donating money to organizations addressing these issues helps!
Sustainable Farming Practices
Participants also discussed a variety of sustainable farming and gardening practices such as no till methods, replacing lawns with pollinator habitats, planting more perennials to keep the soil covered, and seeking dual use of land like place solar panels over pastures for grazing sheep who benefit from the readily available shade.
Show support for NRCS policies and programs that encourage cover crops for farmers. Support the Wisconsin Farmers Union and their efforts.
Educate and Advocate
Talk to your family and friends about these issues. Encourage them to eat local and fight for local foods for everyone. Join organizations that help. Educate the next generation by encouraging schools to discuss healthy eating with students.
Overall, group discussions lead to the conclusion: Continue to advocate and don’t give up!
Climate Change and Food Waste
One third of the world’s food is never eaten. There is 294 pounds of wasted food per person every year. Not only are the calories and nutrition of the food wasted, but the energy put into this food is also lost. The greenhouse gases emitted for growing, processing, packaging, and transporting are all for naught.
The best way to reduce food waste is to prevent wasted food by only producing, buying, and serving what is needed. The least preferred way to address food waste is to wash it down a drain, send it to the landfill, or incinerate it. Many methods and ideas exist between these two ends of the spectrum.
Eat What You Have
Meal plan and purchase only what you will eat. Find multiple meals that use the same ingredients. Use unusual parts of foods that would otherwise go to waste. One participant pointed out that fish heads are an item usually discarded but can be eaten.
Purchase from Too Good To Go or take advantage of other opportunities to purchase unsold food from restaurants. Shop at the clearance section at grocery stores.
Learn What is Spoiled and What is Not
A major point of discussion was food labels such as ‘best by’ and ‘expires on’. It was pointed out that they are conservative estimates and some are not even based on anything. Learn how to determine when food is actually spoiled as opposed to what the label says.
Learn how to properly store food to extend its life. The A to Z Vegetable Storage Guide from Shared Legacy Farm is a helpful place to start.
Compost
Compost extra food, spoiled food, or inedible parts of produce. This includes home composting, a composting machine, using the bokashi composting method indoors, contributing to a community composting site, or subscribing to a composting service like Greener Bay Compost.
Reduce Food Waste at the Source
One participant recommended subscribing to a CSA share so farmers know the demand they have and can grow to meet that demand.
If you have a garden, plan your meals around your harvest. If you have extra bounty, give it to neighbors or leave a table out on your lawn for others to take the extras.
One participant shared how a farmers market in another state has a non-profit that picks up unpurchased veggies at the end of the farmers market so farmers can donate their goods for a tax write off and the non-profit can get the fresh produce to those who need it.
Educate and Inform
Explore the DNR’s resources on food waste to learn more about the issue and potential solutions. Educate people on how much food is wasted, including individuals, schools, colleges, and churches. Present food waste issues to large events.
Participants pointed out how corporate policies need to change and government laws/liabilities should not cause organizations to throw away perfectly good food.
Climate Impacts on Water
Fluctuating extreme rainfall increases demand for water in some parts of the country and causes flooding in others. Both drought and flooding affect the people, animals, and plants. Lack of water is certainly a threat to health, but flooding also affects water safety due to increased runoff and pollution.
Home is the best place to start to work towards clean water and reducing water usage. Begin with using less water when possible, reducing and reusing products, and finding and sources of water contamination.
Outside of your home you can foster climate friendly landscapes. These require less water input, they help filter water, and they serve as pollinator habitat.
We should also build community around this topic and teach others. Evaluate your current personal impact, continue learning, and get involved in change!
Reduce and Reuse Water
Be conscious of your water usage at home. Run full loads of laundry and dishes. Don’t leave the sink running unnecessarily.
Reduce water when possible, such as using the water to rinse rice or boil pasta for your houseplants or garden. Use ridges and swales in your garden. Increase the organic matter in your soil and use mulch to improve water retention. Use rain water barrels. Host workshops on crafting these barrels and using gray water.
Make conscious choices. Try to buy local food and decrease packaging. Be mindful of your food choices and how much water is needed to grow various foods. Opt for low input foods when possible.
Watch Downstream
Be mindful of the chemicals you use in your home which will eventually end up in our water. Opt for cleaning with DIY solutions such as those with vinegar bases. Switch to using soap berries as a laundry detergent.
If you see a lot of waste on the ground from a business, approach the business and ask if there is a way to get a garbage can in a better location to hold this waste.
Start an organization like the Blue Glove Crew from California. They pick up litter to stop it from blowing into waterways but also wear gloves which bring visual awareness to their efforts.
Be mindful of pet wastes so it doesn’t pollute water. One participant shared that they pick up their pet’s waste and flush it down the toilet to be processed which was a recommendation from the city.
Work Towards Large Change
Network with other individuals, organizations, businesses, and municipalities to become more mindful and more aware. Individual action is critical, but we must also make organizations and governments care about these issues and work to find solutions to this issue. Advocate for this issue so there are larger, systematic solutions for the public.
Connect and Educate
Reach out to outdoorsmen such as people who enjoy fishing or water sports to educate them on the issue and get those involved in a solution. Reach out to neighborhood associations to advocate for decreasing water usage and how to keep our waterways clean. Get student groups involved. Empower and mentor the youth on this issue.
Create educational handouts on policy issues to break down big issues into more accessible bites and make policy actions easier. Host or share events for families so we have an intergenerational approach to solutions.
Bring awareness to the impact on road salt on water.
One participant pointed out that more resources about diversifying yards would be helpful. A suggestion was for someone to compile a central list of suppliers and organizations.
The group concluded that it is essential to build relationships, which means continuing to show up. Bridge the gap between awareness and action.
Planetary Health Diet
In 2019, the Planetary Healthy Diet was published by EAT-Lancet. Their research found we should eat more vegetables, fruits, and nuts and consume fewer processed foods and less sugar.
The Planetary Health Diet is one focused on personal choices and education. We can all learn more about how to grow and prepare our own food. For our neighbors, we can work to make healthy food more accessible, affordable, and profitable for farmers. We should work on connecting local consumers to producers.
Educate the Youth
One of the best ways to have more people to choose and consume more healthy, whole foods is to educate our young people! If you grow up with a certain taste in your mouth, that is what you crave. Healthy eating is a habit we should foster from a young age. We must educate children on how to grow, cook, and make healthy and environmentally-conscious food choices.
Work towards getting gardening and cooking classes into summer school, park programs, YMCA after school programs, and ultimately the public school system. Incorporate this concept into 4-H programs. Educate both kids and their families on food and nutrition.
Support the New Leaf Foods’ Community Orchards program at schools so they can continue to grow and thrive.
Advocate for having a salad bar in every school.
Incorporate More Fresh Food
You can also learn how to use more fresh foods that align with the Planetary Health Diet into your everyday meals. Watch the Channel 22 cooking show. Look up recipes online. Watch YouTube videos on cooking techniques.
You can also grow some fresh foods at home such as a small windowsill herb container, a grow bag on your porch with some vegetables, or converting some of your lawn into a garden. Help kids start their own pizza gardens at home.
Eat at restaurants with local chefs who purchase locally grown foods.
Support Local Programs
Support local community gardens, whether that is by caring for your own plot, volunteering, or donating funds or supplies.
Advocate for existing programs that are currently under threat due to grant funding cuts. Work towards getting locally grown foods into institutions.
Support urban agriculture, such as Valentine Gardens in Green Bay.
Conclusion
There are many efforts we can all take to make changes in our own individual lives, in our neighborhoods and cities, our state, and even on a national level. Although fighting climate change may feel like an overwhelming and insurmountable task, there is strength in numbers! We have many people who are knowledgeable, passionate, and driven to work together towards solutions, including those who attended the Food, Climate, and Policy Roundtable.
We learned how we can help our friends and neighbors facing food insecurity and reduce our own monthly food costs. We discussed how we can support our local growers financially, with policies and programs, and through networking. We explored how we can reduce food waste by eliminating it at the source but also by saving the nutrients for future growth. We brainstormed how we can reduce and reuse water at home and how to work locally and communally to keep our waterways clean. We considered how we can eat a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly diet and how we can encourage the youth to pursue healthy eating for life.
We heard overlap between topics. Reducing food waste can also help address food insecurity. Eating a planetary diet and becoming proactive about fighting water pollution can also support our local growers. Having a garden, no matter the size, can help reduce food waste, address food insecurity, and foster an environmentally-conscious diet.
At the heart of every solution was community and connections!
Every solution involved working with our neighbors, our communities, and our constituents. Every solution included networking and connecting various organizations, government bodies, and individuals to work together to find large changes that can positively impact everyone. Every solution was rooted in education and advocacy.
Keep learning, connecting, educating, and working together for progress!
Thank Yous
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Food, Climate, and Policy Roundtable! Thank you to our presenters for sharing your knowledge and doing important work with organizations. Thank you to everyone who attended, sharing your thoughts, ideas, and generating actionable steps for everyone to implement.
Thank you to our community partners who supported this event: Wisconsin Conservation Voters, Clean Water Action Council, FOODWIse, Green Bay Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Northeast Wisconsin Bird Alliance, Community Water Coalition, and SLO Farmers Co-op.
