IPHI Hosts Maryland’s First Statewide Food Summit

The Institute for Public Health Innovation hosted Maryland’s first statewide food summit on Thursday, October 15. The event, Developing a Maryland Food Charter: Statewide Summit, included nearly 60 participants from all five regions of the state, and focused on the following: the current status of potential food systems issues that can be addressed at the state level; an overview of the outcomes and themes that arose at the regional convenings; and finalizing and prioritizing the strategies from across the five food system domains that will be included in the Food Charter.A panel of experts from Grow & Fortify, Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission, Baltimore Office of Sustainability, Maryland State Department of Education, Center for a Livable Future, and Maryland Hunger Solutions helped answer the question, What is the Change You Want to See?, from their perspective in light of the current status of the Maryland  food system. All summit participants were able to refine and strengthen strategies that will be included in the first-ever Food Charter, and assess the feasibility of the strategies on which to take collective action. All participants were also able to vote for one of three Vision Statement options that will also be included in the Food Charter, which will be published in early 2016. More information about how to stay involved will be released at that time.