Below is a summary of the welcome address at the 2026 Food & Farm Forum. What followed was a keynote address about food systems policy work, a policy panel discussion, and a group listening session of attendees and how policy impacts their operations.

“Before I introduce our keynote speaker, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the reality of the moment we are in. We are gathered here to talk about policy—how it is made, how to engage with it, and how it can be used to shape a more just and sustainable agricultural system. And it is fair, even necessary, to ask whether policy work matters right now, when we see laws ignored, norms discarded, and the rule of law itself openly challenged by those in power.

That question is not naïve. It is rational. And it is shared by many people who care deeply about justice, equity, and democracy. When the system is functioning as intended (when laws are enforced, institutions are accountable, and participation is encouraged), policy can be one of the most powerful tools we have. It can protect workers, steward land, ensure access to food, and create real, material change in people’s lives. Many of the gains we now take for granted came from sustained, disciplined policy work carried out over decades.

But we also need to be honest: policy is confusing by design. It is technical, opaque, and often inaccessible not because it has to be, but because complexity discourages participation. When people feel shut out, decision-making consolidates upward. That is not an accident. It is a feature of how power protects itself.

At the same time, we are witnessing something deeply troubling. The rule of law, supposedly the bedrock of our democracy, is being trampled in plain sight. Institutions meant to serve the public are being hollowed out or repurposed to serve ideology. We are seeing open expressions of white nationalism, not only at the margins of society, but symbolically and materially embedded within government agencies themselves. For many in this room, this feels unprecedented. And in important ways, it is (at least within our lifetimes). But it is also critical to say plainly: this is not new for everyone. Black and brown Americans have lived with selective enforcement of laws, state-sanctioned discrimination, and systemic injustice for generations. What feels like a shocking rupture to some, has long been a daily reality for others. The difference now is not that injustice has appeared, it is that more people are being forced to see it.

Discrimination in this country has not only been tolerated, it has been codified. It has been written into policy. From land ownership to labor protections to access to capital, agriculture itself bears the imprint of these choices. Understanding policy, then, is not an abstract exercise. It is how inequity has been constructed and how it can be dismantled.

So why are we here? Why talk about policy now?

Because moments like this demand clarity rather than withdrawal. Because disengagement is precisely what systems of exclusion rely on. And because policy work is not only about federal agencies or elected officials, it is about networks, shared strategy, collective pressure, and mutual support. Today and going forward, we want to give you tools: tools to understand how policy works when it works, how to engage when it doesn’t, and how to support one another as we do this work together. This is a moment that calls for connection, shared learning, and resolve.

We are here together because none of us can address this moment alone. As a network, we have knowledge, relationships, and power…if we choose to use them deliberately. This convening is about learning how we do that: how we stay engaged, how we protect one another, and how we continue to push for an agricultural system (and a democracy) that reflects our values rather than our fears.

With that context, it is my honor to introduce our keynote speaker, who will help ground this conversation and guide us in thinking about how engagement, even now, can make a difference.

Susan Lightfoot Schempf is joining us hear today from New Orleans, where she serves as Executive Director of Food Systems Leadership Network…working to strengthen collaboration and capacity across the food and agriculture sector. Her work focuses on advancing equitable, resilient, and sustainable food systems by supporting leaders and organizations through learning, strategy, and network-building. She brings a systems-level perspective informed by experience in food systems development, community engagement, and cross-sector partnership. Susan is committed to cultivating leadership that can navigate complexity and drive meaningful, long-term change in food systems.