Next month, on September 12th, Consumer Federation of America will host the 46th Annual National Food Policy Conference. It will be my seventh year working to organize the event as CFA’s Director of Food Policy, and the task feels more important than ever.
I have always enjoyed putting together the National Food Policy Conference each year because it gives me an excuse to learn about issues outside the focus of my advocacy work, and to collaborate with a brilliant group of leaders that serve on the conference’s advisory committee. But as the political landscape has become more divided, and debate over public policy—including food policy—seems increasingly untethered to any consensus about the facts on the ground, I’ve come to view the National Food Policy Conference as critical to advancing CFA’s mission.
That mission, since the organization was established in 1968, has been to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy and education. And CFA’s success in pursuing its mission—and the success of the consumer movement more broadly—has always depended on getting to the truth and identifying data-driven, empirically-justifiable policy reforms that expand the pie for everyone, rather than for just a particularly vocal or well-endowed minority.
But getting to the truth requires considering people and positions that we do not agree with. And that can be difficult. In fact, many people find it easier to caricature those they disagree with than to look for common ground, or to acknowledge nuance. This is a tendency that social media has exploited, and it has become a fundamental obstacle to progress today.
The National Food Policy Conference provides an antidote. This conference is unique in the broad range of perspectives that it presents on food policy issues, and by having such a diverse mix of industry, consumer advocates, regulators, and academics, the conference fosters meaningful dialogue and provides a platform for collaboration. It gives attendees a chance to hear from the other side, and to influence the other side, in an atmosphere that above all prizes open and honest exchanges of opinion, on and off stage.
After years of pandemic restrictions, many of us have fallen out of the habit of attending large gatherings. As an introvert, I understand the appeal of staying home. But I have also been pleasantly surprised by the exuberant energy at recent events I have attended, including last year’s National Food Policy Conference.
Unlike last year, this year’s National Food Policy Conference will not have a virtual attendance option. The decision to eliminate the virtual option reflects practical considerations, and also our intention to focus on the experience of in-person attendees. Toward that end, we have included interactive activities in the day’s program, along with increased opportunities for networking. I hope you will consider attending this year’s conference. You can check out the program and register by clicking here. Hope to see you soon!