The National Food Policy under development by the federal government needs to be overseen by an independent governing council to ensure the agrifood sector and other interested groups of a meaningful role in developing strategies and plans, says an alliance of more than 50 food industry, civil society and farming groups.Creating a National Food Policy Council will ensure the successful implementation of the multifaceted policy the government is crafting to incorporate the social, environmental and economic aspects of the food system into an integrated whole, the alliance said in a statement.A Council “would bring together key stakeholders from across the food system to work collaboratively with the government,” the alliance said. “It would provide diverse expertise and evidence-based advice on how to progress toward a food system that better promotes a healthier, more equitable, sustainable and prosperous Canada.”The Alliance includes the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph, Food Secure Canada and Maple Leaf Foods among more than 50 groups.Their proposal, months in the making, was released days after the Commons agriculture committee released a report with 21 recommendations that included a call for “a national food policy advisory board consisting of the key government departments, the agrifood sector, academia, Indigenous peoples and civil society.”Both the MPs and the alliance want the government to take “a whole of government approach” to the food policy development and implementation so that all federal departments are involved in implementing the food policy, which is expected to be unveiled during 2018.The alliance said the food policy should support the government's goal of $75 billion in agrifood exports “while integrating critical food security, health and safety, and environmental sustainability requirements.”The Council could play a key role in overseeing the work required “to further address the challenges and opportunities within our food system, engage stakeholders, and move from policy formulation to implementation. Some of these challenges include four million Canadians living in food insecurity, high levels of diet-related disease, and climate change mitigation and adaptation; while there are significant opportunities to build public trust and advance Canada's international trade objectives.”Many of these same issues were highlighted in the agriculture committee's recommendations.“A national food policy is a long-standing priority for Canadian farmers,” said Ron Bonnett, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. “CFA supports a multi-stakeholder governing council as a means of ensuring that farmers have a place at the food policy development table. We see it as an important forum for sharing perspectives and encouraging dialogue. Through joint discussions, we can clarify misperceptions and identify opportunities where farmers can help meet emerging consumer demands.”Diana Bronson, Executive Director of Food Secure Canada, said, “The non-profit sector is deeply knowledgeable and engaged in advancing a more equitable and sustainable food system and provides an important voice that has not yet been integrated in food policy making. Bringing more diversity to the table will ensure that social, health and environmental issues are given proper attention as well as bringing innovative community practices to the policy-making table.”Evan Fraser, Director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph, said academics thoroughly researched food policy councils in other countries to distill best practices to include in the proposals to the federal government.The alliance said the policy needs “a governance structure that will make adaptive changes to policies, programs and regulations at different levels, over time, and that recognizes the need for a process that goes beyond the initial launch of A Food Policy for Canada.”In addition to the establishment of the Council, the government needs to agree to implement four short-term recommendations for improving food policy governance in Canada and consider certain longer-term options for institutional support of food policy governance.The Council “would proactively engage with diverse stakeholders to provide ongoing input into the implementation of A Food Policy for Canada. Equally important, it would help build collaboration, elevate and coordinate programs, and drive change among these diverse stakeholders to accelerate progress towards the food policy's objectives.”The two most critical problems facing Canada's food system are “the lack of a specialized agency to monitor and improve coordination across departments and levels of government involved in food, and a lack of inclusivity in food policymaking,” the alliance said. “These two limitations in current arrangements compromise policy coherence and effective action and contribute to the growing disconnect between Canada's food producers and the broader Canadian public. If properly established, such a council can play a key role in setting Canada in long-term direction towards an economically robust, innovative and sustainable food system in which all Canadians can fully enjoy their right to healthy food and in which the industry flourishes.”Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.