In many cities across the country, food policy councils have been formed to work on improving their local food systems. A food policy council is an organized group of stakeholders, such as community members, non-profits, education, businesses, and/or government, working together to implement or change policies that impact the food system. Food policy councils can be an official part of government or independent of government. Issues that food policy councils work on can include increasing access to affordable, healthy food; improving food procurement standards for schools and other institutions; supporting healthy food businesses; and reducing food waste.