BREAKOUT SESSION: New England Integrated Policy Program (NEIPP)

The New England Integrated Policy Program (NEIPP) is a collaborative initiative created by Food Solutions New England (FSNE) and Wildlands, Woodlands, Farmlands & Communities (WWF&C) to promote integrated, region-wide policies that address the urgent need for climate resilience, biodiversity, thriving ecosystems, community well-being, and food sovereignty in New England. NEIPP facilitates multi-state, relationship-centered solutions that advance land and water conservation and biodiversity to support the just transition of food, land, forestry, and fisheries systems towards sustainability and resilience. By building broad networks and coalitions intersecting conservation and food system issues, NEIPP amplifies calls for redirecting community, political, and financial resources to serve democratic, equitable stewardship and resilient communities, while providing a unique opportunity to forge diverse coalitions around shared values connecting food, farming, fisheries, forests, and communities. There is no clear framework for the governance of our regional food system, yet there are many initiatives already underway at various organizations throughout New England that seek to do just this. Using a project currently under development as a case study, this session explored how NEIPP can work to leverage existing efforts to develop a regional governance conceptual framework, translate a conceptual approach to the governance of our regional food system to policy practitioners, and advance an understanding of how regional governance can better prioritize equity and human rights. Insights gleaned from this discussion will help inform project development and the direction of the NEIPP broadly.