Introduction

This chapter shares information about the decline in civic engagement in the United States and internationally, and explains why civic engagement is critical to healthy democracies. It then explains why the most immediately compelling entry point for civic engagement for many people may be the food system – the system that, of all complex systems, is likely to attract the largest and most diverse group of people to become civically engaged. A short summary of the contents of the book is provided. The chapter ends by describing a shared vision of an equitable, accessible, economically vibrant, and environmentally sustainable food system that ensures food access, nutrition security, economic opportunity, and environmental and health benefits for all people.