A first-of-its-kind regional partnership turning shared data and voices into shared action.
Leaders from across the Central Texas gathered this month at Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) to launch the Central Texas Regional Food System Council — a new effort uniting agricultural producers, nonprofit leaders, policymakers, local food coalitions, funders, food industry professionals, researchers, and community voices around one shared goal: building a more resilient, equitable, and connected regional food system.
As the backbone organization, CTFB serves as both facilitator and connector, ensuring that every voice at the table — from rural producers to middle-of-the-supply-chain businesses to community advocates — is heard, valued, and equipped to drive coordinated action.
From Emergency Response to Systems Change
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded a Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP) grant of $250,000 to CTFB. The funding enabled CTFB to establish the council and help the region move beyond immediate food assistance to address the root causes of food insecurity. The Central Texas Regional Food System Council is one of the first of its kind: a multi-county, multi-sector partnership with a food bank serving as the backbone — bringing infrastructure, logistics expertise, and community reach to regional food system planning. It is also built on a strong foundation of shared data and measurement, leveraging the Central Texas Food System Dashboard and community food needs assessments to turn insights into coordinated action across Central Texas.
A Collaborative Effort for Real Change
Food insecurity doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s deeply connected to agriculture, wages, transportation, housing, and health. The council was created to bridge these intersections and turn data into action.
“The impetus for this council was to unite disparate communities, elevate the stories of those with lived experiences, and leverage years of data collection and community partners all with the goal of increasing equitable food access for all and creating more resilient communities. We’ve always been committed to providing food for today, and this council will also help us ensure food for tomorrow. This council combines years of data and partnerships and harnesses them to strengthens our entire food system — supporting local economies, supply chain resilience, and long-term food security,” said Sari Vatske, President and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank.
Council members bring expertise from every link in the food system — from growers and processors to distributors, retailers, service providers, and those experiencing food insecurity. Together, they are connecting the dots: strengthening regional supply chains, ensuring that food grown here can be processed, moved, and sold here, and making sure every community benefits along the way.
The result is a powerful blend of expertise and compassion — people working together not just to respond to food insecurity, but to also transform systemic issues that are at the root causes of hunger and poverty.
Connection, Collaboration, and Shared Purpose
At the first convening, council members aligned on shared purpose, reviewed regional data, and began shaping a collective vision for sustainable solutions. They explored how land use, distribution infrastructure, retail access, and community health intersect, and how coordinating these elements could expand food access and regional economic opportunity.
The conversations were practical yet hopeful, rooted in the belief that food access is both a basic right and a shared responsibility across public, private, and community sectors.
Making Tomorrow Possible, Together
The Regional Food System Council’s first year will focus on identifying shared priorities, advancing early wins that demonstrate progress, and translating those priorities into business plans and policy strategies. These early successes will help build momentum for larger, long-term initiatives across the region.
By connecting policymakers with practitioners and pairing data with lived experience, the Central Texas Regional Food System Council is charting a path toward a more resilient and equitable future for every Central Texan.
