Local Government Food Policy Database

Syracuse Department of Public Works; Syracuse Department of Engineering; Syracuse Transportation Department; Sustainability Community Advisory Committee

The Syracuse Sustainability Plan is part of the greater City of Syracuse Comprehensive Plan 2040. The Sustainability Plan examines community needs through five components: energy and green building, education and training, food systems, natural environment, and waste and recycling. The plan aims to address each component by establishing goals, objectives and action steps. Goals of the plan include reducing energy consumption and environmental impact of buildings, increasing renewable capacity, supporting needs of the Syracuse City School district, engaging residents in creating a sustainable city and green economy, creating an open space network to connect parks and public spaces with neighborhood green-ways, increase tree coverage, improve ecological value of tributaries, improve ecological management and storm water management, and increase efficiency and effectiveness of waste and recycling operations while minimizing waste production. The plan outlines five goals for the food systems component: 1) partner in the creation of a food system council to sustain municipal and community food initiatives; 2) restore local food system infrastructure by integrating area/regional food production, processing, distribution, and marketing as part of economic development plans; 3) increase urban agriculture in Syracuse; 4) increase access to whole food production pathways; and 5) improve the overall diet of the city’s population. Issues such as land use, transportation and economic development are discussed in the larger Comprehensive Plan.