THE RURBAN FRINGE » Food

What are Sustainable Food Systems?

Jennifer — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:51:59 +0000

According to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), sustainable food systems are collaborative networks that integrate the production, processing, distribution and consumption of food and waste management.

They aim to enhance the environmental, economic and social health of a community.

Last year, FCM conducted a survey to find out whether such systems were important to Canadian municipalities. They asked what municipalities were doing about sustainable food systems, if they required resources, funding or training, and where municipalities were going to find such information.

Well, the answers have been harvested and are now available on FCM’s website, along with some additional, related resources.

Click through to learn how sustainable food systems can fit into municipal planning priorities and how different communities are working towards success.

Access to Fresh Food Worsening

Jennifer — Fri, 13 May 2011 21:30:31 +0000

As many small communities already know, rural grocery stores are closing. Those that do manage to maintain a grocery business in their community, often have to approach the venture with a resourceful eye in order to make it sustainable.

What may be surprising, however, is that larger communities – rurban, suburban, cities - are facing the same problem. That is, the rise of ‘food deserts’ and decline of neighbourhood food stores is creating a very real food imbalance … one that will steadily worsen if it’s not addressed.

Does your community have a food desert?

If so, dig a little deeper. Who lives there? Can you recruit a grocer – perhaps one who has a store in a similar area – or a local entrepreneur to found a grocery store? Does a national retailer have a food store format for your particular problem?

If researched thoroughly and addressed properly, diminishing a food desert can be win-win for all involved.

Using Social Media to Build Community Food Security

Jennifer — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:17:47 +0000

I’ve only recently discovered the bits & bytes website, an online food security resource database. Developed with financial support from the BC Community Food Action Initiative and the Government of Canada’s Social Development Partnerships Program, the site strives to be a living, ever-growing cornucopia of freely-accessible, community food security information and resources.

The database hosts a range of media – from various documents, audio and video – and is easily searchable. Visitors to the site are encouraged to post comments and upload related information. The content ranges from community kitchen recipes and nutrition information to food charters, food sovereignty, hunger and beyond.

Fashioned after Wikipedia, the database aims to grow through the submissions and comments of the community who uses it. By using social media concepts and applications in this way, the site hopes to expand in richness and content, with a focus on credible, practical, accessible information that will be of use to community developers, academics, policy makers, farmers and anyone interested in food security.

The site is currently maintained with the support of Food Secure Canada.

Visit bits & bytes here.

THE RURBAN FRINGE » Food

What are Sustainable Food Systems?

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Access to Fresh Food Worsening

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Using Social Media to Build Community Food Security

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