Council Info & Reports

Header image featuring the FSRC logo and a photo of the Council members posing outside a food distribution center

Representing food resilience and policy organizations across the State, the members of the Council collaborate to achieve the goals and outcomes prescribed by law.

The Maryland Food Resiliency Council (FSRC), is currently co-chaired by the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MDEM) Secretary, Russ Strickland, and Nancy Nunn, of the Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology. In addition to the co-chairs, the Council has eight additional members appointed by statute including:

Three co-vice chairs:

Dean of the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Secretary of the Department of Human Services
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture

One member of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of the Senate
One member of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House
Executive Director of Maryland Agricultural and Resource–Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO)
Executive Director of the Maryland Farm Bureau
Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce

All additional Council members are appointed by the Secretary of MDEM for a three year term, which may be renewed for no more than two consecutive terms.

Click here to see full roster -->

Why a Food System Resiliency Council?

The USDA defines food insecurity as “a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life.” Food insecurity is a socially-rooted and systemic issue that has increased in prevalence since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Maryland Food Bank, 1 in 3 Maryland households are food insecure, and the majority of which are households with children. Crises, shocks, and stressors, natural and human-made, exacerbate food insecurity and cause considerable short- and long-term damage to our food systems and, in turn, to our people.

To help address these issues, the FSRC's goals are:

Address the food insecurity crisis in the State of Maryland resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis.
Develop equity and sustainability policy recommendations to increase the long-term resiliency of the food system.
Expand the impact of existing food council stakeholder organizations.
Develop a strategic plan to increase the production and procurement of Maryland certified food.

Council Documents