Thomas has worked for over 20 years with government and non-governmental agencies to address policy changes to strengthen urban and rural linkages in food systems, especially in relation to school food, sustainable agriculture, and food and nutrition security. Since 2002 he has worked to secure legislative and administrative changes affecting public procurement, and leveling the field for small to medium scale farmers and processors. He is the senior advisor for government affairs at School Food FOCUS and previously was policy director for the Community Food Security Coalition in Washington. Recently he helped facilitate an international initiative to raise the profile of “city region food systems” (www.cityregionfoodsystems.org).

He joins EcoAgriculture Partners to continue to integrate his work on city region landscapes with our expertise in rural development, as well as advise on international policy processes. Thomas teaches food policy and governance in the Food Studies Program of the New School for Public Engagement.