The Local Food Systems Policy Index (Local Food-EPI+) tool is designed to benchmark local governments on their implementation of policies to improve the healthiness, equity and environmental sustainability of food systems.
Implementation of the Local Food-EPI+ tool can facilitate the following for local councils:
- Identify current strengths and highlight priority areas for action
- Identify and share knowledge of best practice
- Monitor policy progress
- Strengthen efforts to increase accountability for change
- Build staff knowledge and capacity in this area
- Build relevant collaborations
Are you interested in implementing the tool in your local government?
How was the Local Food-EPI+ tool created?
The tool was adapted from the Food Policy Index tool which was developed by the international INFORMAS food environment monitoring network (active in 65+ countries) and has been applied to Federal and State levels of governments in Australia.
To create the Local Food-EPI+ tool, researchers at the Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE) undertook an extensive review of relevant academic literature and worked in conjunction with government representatives, policy makers, public health practitioners and academic experts, both locally and internationally.
What is the purpose of the Local Food-EPI+ tool?
The purpose of the tool is to assist local governments in prioritising their actions to improve the healthiness, equity and environmental sustainability of food systems.
What does the Local Food-EPI+ tool include?
The Local Food-EPI+ tool consists of 61 indicator statements in 25 policy areas, across 10 food policy domains, weighted on relative importance.
An overview of the process to implement the Local Food-EPI+ is shown in the figure below.
Figure 1. Local Food-EPI+ Implementation Process
Who is the Local Food-EPI+ tool for?
The tool is designed for use by local governments within Australia.
Application of the tool aims to build the capacity of local governments to promote community health and wellbeing in the short- and long-term by identifying and prioritising food policy actions.
It can also help local governments to set and meet healthy eating and environmental sustainability priorities in Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plans. Application of the tool will help to identify best practice, monitor policy progress, build capacity and collaborations, and strengthen efforts to increase accountability for change.
How to use the Local Food-EPI+ tool?
The Local Food-EPI+ Implementation Resource provides a step-by-step guide for implementing the tool within local governments. Detailed instructions are accompanied by supporting documentation and templates to make implementation of the tool simple and easy.
The Local Food-EPI+ tool has been successfully implemented in several local governments in Victoria, Australia.
Available Reports:
Got more questions?
If you would like to find out more please contact the RE-FRESH: Next Generation team (re-fresh@deakin.edu.au) or Professor Gary Sacks (gary.sacks@deakin.edu.au).
Find out about the 'Local Governments Creating Healthier Food Environments Interest Group'
The Local Governments Creating Healthy Food Environments Interest Group shares knowledge to spread positive changes in local government food policy across Australia. The group is focused on generating interest and commitment to change among local governments, and informing the development of mechanisms to facilitate action. This includes enhancing the research capacity of local governments, and supporting scale-up of evidence-based policies and practices to improve the healthiness and sustainability of the food environments in local government settings. Find out more
