Area officials on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) voted Wednesday to create a permanent committee focused on improving the region’s food security and a fund devoted to supporting this work.

The COG Board of Directors first stood up the Food and Agriculture Regional Member (FARM) Committee as an ad hoc group a year ago. According to the resolution approved by the board yesterday, the region will continue to collaborate across jurisdictions to enhance food security and build a more resilient, connected food and farm economy, especially given increased instances of food insecurity brought on by economic hardship due to COVID-19. The Capital Area Food Bank reports that 1 out of 10 residents in the region is food insecure, or without consistent access to healthy, affordable food.

The now permanent FARM committee and regional fund will prioritize:

• Improving food security in the region.
• Supporting Black, Indigenous, and people of color and small farmers.
• Focusing on farmland preservation, land use regulations, environmental sustainability, and resilience.
• Improving and communicating regional food system data.
• Leveraging procurement to support equity and the region’s food and farm economy.

"The pandemic has revealed and worsened a crisis in our region–food insecurity, said District of Columbia Councilmember and FARM Committee Chair Mary Cheh. “It has also highlighted the tremendous investment that our food assistance providers, local and state governments, regional farmers, food businesses, and concerned residents have made in supporting those who are especially vulnerable to the pandemic's effects. The FARM Committee is an important tool in addressing regional and systemic food insecurity, and I'm proud to join my colleagues in this vital work."

The committee will also consider the potential to leverage federal relief funds to support regional food security priorities.

The FARM committee is currently comprised of 24 members, including elected officials and subject matter experts; District of Columbia Councilmember Mary Cheh serves as Chair, and Montgomery County Council Member Craig Rice and City of Fairfax Councilmember Jon Stehle are Vice Chairs.

MORE: Resolution R35-2021 - Endorsing the Establishment of a FARM Committee and Regional Fund