Using a Racial or Social Equity Framework Contributes to Food Policy Councils’ Efforts in Addressing Food System Inequities 

Feb 05, 2026

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) contributed to a new study that examines the use of racial or social equity frameworks by food policy councils (FPCs). The researchers were particularly interested in identifying the characteristics of councils that used, developed, or did not use these frameworks. Additionally, this study explored whether an association exists between FPCs’ framework use and their responses to COVID-19, including partnerships formed and target populations for public health crisis response efforts. 

The study, titled “Racial or social equity framework use among food policy councils and associations with councils’ COVID-19 responses,” was published online in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development on November 20, 2025. The researchers gathered and analyzed data from a national sample of 193 FPCs that participated in the biennial FPC census administered by CLF’s Food Policy Networks project, which recently transitioned to an independent entity under a fiscal sponsor to facilitate further growth. The following characteristics of FPCs were assessed from the survey: (1) use of a racial or social equity framework use; (2) demographic information; (3) budget and funding sources, partnerships, groups supported, and policy priorities; and (4) COVID-19-related actions. 

FPCs bring together individuals and organizations working in the food system for a multi-sectoral collaboration to develop and implement policies and programs and to establish a network of key food system stakeholders. By applying a racial equity framework, FPCs can systematically inform, evaluate, and adjust their community-facing initiatives with respect to food access, justice, and sustainability.  

“Understanding characteristics of FPCs that use racial or social equity frameworks and the relationship between these frameworks and FPCs’ responses  during a health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic is critical to identifying the value of these frameworks and the need for future support for FPCs to use these frameworks,” says Karen Bassarab, one of the authors of this study and a senior program officer at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.  

Among the 193 FCPs that participated, approximately 38 percent reported using a racial or social equity framework, 43 percent were currently developing one, and 19 percent were not using a racial or social equity framework. In relation to other FPC characteristics, having a full-time position was found to be significantly associated with councils’ use of a racial or social equity framework. FPCs that used these frameworks also reported more COVID-19 response actions in comparison to those that were either developing or did not use a framework. 

Overall, the study results showed that FPCs that used racial or social equity frameworks had a greater likelihood of conducting more policy work; being more engaged with marginalized communities such as Black and Latinx populations and people with disabilities; placing healthy food access and local food processing as top policy priorities; and establishing stronger connections with state-elected officials and social justice groups.  

“Although our study focused on policy actions of FPCs during the COVID-19 pandemic, our findings extend beyond this crisis,” says Anne Palmer, one of the authors of this study and director of practice at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future. “The adoption and use of racial or social equity frameworks among food policy councils are important elements that support their efforts to pursue equitable and sustainable food systems for the communities they serve.” 

“Racial or social equity framework use among food policy councils and associations with councils’ COVID-19 responses” was co-authored by Abiodun T. Atoloye, Larissa Calancie, Jessica Luong, Karen Bassarab, Amy Borg, Natasha Frost, Anne Palmer, and Kristen Cooksey Stowers.