Going Local for a Change

In rural and urban communities across North America,
signs that our modern food system is failing our
farmers, our environment, our health and our poor are
growing painfully apparent. Now that we find
ourselves at the brink, an appetite for change has
started to develop. Farm-to-university programs are
among a new crop of food system alternatives designed
to change food and agriculture from the ground-up.
Regarded as the planned efforts to connect
universities with local farms, farm-to-university is
intended to benefit farmers with fair and stable
markets while making local sustainable food more
accessible to members of university communities.

As an initial assessment of the possibilities for
farm-to-university at Concordia University, this
community food planning study was an attempt to
identify stakeholder interests as well as potential
barriers and opportunities to development. Using a
community food security framework focused on
partnership, program and policy development, this
work sought to connect with relevant and diverse
stakeholders from both inside and outside the University.

Autorentext

Sean Bennell is a geographer and food studies researcher based inToronto, Canada. He has a BA in Geography from Ryerson Universityand an MA in Public Policy and Geography from ConcordiaUniversity. His research concentrates on local food systems, foodsystem planning, food policy, and GIS applications for foodsystem sustainability.

Klappentext

In rural and urban communities across North America,signs that our modern food system is failing ourfarmers, our environment, our health and our poor aregrowing painfully apparent. Now that we findourselves at the brink, an appetite for change hasstarted to develop. Farm-to-university programs areamong a new crop of food system alternatives designedto change food and agriculture from the ground-up.Regarded as the planned efforts to connectuniversities with local farms, farm-to-university isintended to benefit farmers with fair and stablemarkets while making local sustainable food moreaccessible to members of university communities.As an initial assessment of the possibilities forfarm-to-university at Concordia University, thiscommunity food planning study was an attempt toidentify stakeholder interests as well as potentialbarriers and opportunities to development. Using acommunity food security framework focused onpartnership, program and policy development, thiswork sought to connect with relevant and diversestakeholders from both inside and outside the University.