Policy
Our Policy Work
GFI engages leaders across sectors to develop practical, evidence-based solutions to the food challenges of our time. Situated at the George Washington University, the institute is uniquely positioned to bridge schools and disciplines, connect researchers with practitioners, and move ideas into action.
GFI also produces policy-relevant work in its own right – translating research into accessible forms that decision-makers can use, and ensuring it reaches them when it matters most.
See our latest policy briefs:
Our Latest Policy Briefs
September 2026
Designing With, Not For: A Human-Centered Design Workshop Toolkit for Food Systems Practitioners
Better food policy starts with understanding the needs and experiences of the people it is meant to serve. This toolkit from GFI and Swipe Out Hunger offers a practical workshop format for engaging individuals and communities as co-designers of solutions to food-system challenges.
August 2026
Healthy Corner Stores, Healthier Communities: Expanding Food Access Through Neighborhood Retail
This brief from DC Central Kitchen and GFI introduces the Healthy Corners model for policymakers, funders, and city leaders looking to expand healthy food access — and points toward the tools to make it happen.
July 2026
One Year Later: How H.R. 1’s SNAP Policy Changes Are Reverberating Across the Food System
A white paper from the Center for Science in the Public Interest and GFI finds that the SNAP provisions enacted one year ago under H.R. 1 are already producing far-reaching consequences across the nation's food safety net.
June 2026
Changing the Default: A Policy Roadmap for Reducing Added Sugars in U.S. Children's Diets
A policy brief from GFI outlines a comprehensive roadmap for reducing added sugar consumption among children and aligning intake with national dietary recommendations.
May 2026
Surveying the Aid Ecosystem: The Damage Beneath the Headlines
A 2026 GW report released the first wave of findings from a systematic survey of over 150 humanitarian and development practitioners.
April 2026
Building a Better Food System: A Community-Informed Approach to Understanding and Transforming Food Systems
Strong food systems are equitable, resilient, and sustainable. GFI’s work helps communities understand how their food systems function today, and where targeted action can create lasting positive change.
Conversations on Food Justice Webinar Series
Conversations on Food Justice is a collaboration between Food & Society at the Aspen Institute and GFI. This speaking series examines the roots and evolution of the food movement and how it intersects with race and class, as well as health, educational, and environmental inequities. Conversations feature a multitude of diverse voices to discuss the consequences of unequal food access, and how the food justice movement can be a catalyst for equity. Live, one-hour discussions are hosted virtually. Registration is free and open to the public.
Conversations on Food Justice: SNAP Restrictions, Food Justice, and the Politics of Eating
Part I of this two-part conversation focused on the policy debate and the evidence behind proposed SNAP purchase restrictions.
Part I of this Conversations on Food Justice examined the policy landscape and justice implications of restricting SNAP purchases. Part II brings the conversation to the ground.
Other Materials