https://create.piktochart.com/beta/teams/30763883/saved/63905106(Michael Vincent)
In addressing food insecurity and scarcity, policy work is what gives the people more power. Generating power through policy allows organizations like SPROUT to be able to set up community gardens and events throughout the city. During my interview, Amelia describes, “In addition to this policy platform, we are also working towards a farmer’s bill to give farmers in the Gulf South region of Louisiana a say in national policy for farming, fisheries, climate related issues, hunger, and nutrition.” (Interview Transcript). Real farmers should have influence over national policies dealing with farming, fisheries, climate related issues, hunger, and nutrition related issues, since they are the members in our society who work with the land and know what is best for it. By giving more power to the farmers through their influence over policy they can help control what kinds of farming practices, equipment, and chemicals we utilize, and how to change it to improve sustainability. Using policiesand bills, food insecurity and scarcity can be addressed in sustainable ways.
By starting young, and teaching kids the basics of how to provide for yourself, like gardening and urban farming, these techniques and methods can be retained from a younger age. Amelia noted that, “It is important to teach kids growing up in school about proper nutrition, so they are equipped to make proper choices about their nutrition when given the chance.” (Interview Transcript). Changing education policy in incorporate more programs on urban gardening for inner city schools would allow children to grow up with the knowledge of how to provide for themselves. In environments where foods that are healthy and nutrious may be harder to access, having this knowledge would make a crucial difference in relying on the system, and being able to provide for yourself, thus giving residents more autonomy over what they eat and where they can access it.