Food Security & Local Food

FOOD SECURITY WORKING GROUP
The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as existing “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life”. Commonly, the concept of food security is defined as including both physical and economic (affordable) access to food that meets people's dietary needs as well as their food preferences.
RECENT EVENT
On March 4, 2013, the Bruce Botanical Food Gardens hosted approximately 80 people from Grey, Bruce, Huron, Perth, and Wellington Counties who gathered in Ripley Ontario to hear the address of Olivier De Schutter, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food made possible by the work of Food Secure Canada and Carleton University. Mr. De Schutter highlighted the findings from his May 2012 visit to Canada. A link to his report is posted in the sidebar column along with The People's Food Policy a document developed as the precursor to a much requested and anticipated National Food Policy for Canada and other documents addressing the issues of food security.
Those in attendance covered a wide variety of organizations including municipal and provincial government representatives, First Nations, health unit representatives, poverty reduction organizations, farm organizations and farmers, doctors, and interested individuals.

MOVING FORWARD
THOSE WHO WERE PRESENT AT THE EVENT AND THOSE OF YOU FROM GREY/BRUCE/HURON/PERTH/AND WELLINGTON COUNTIES WHO MAY WISH TO BECOME INVOLVED ARE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INITIAL STAGE OF A THOUGHT-SHARING PROCESS THROUGH OUR ONLINE SURVEY (button in the right hand column).

DUE TO THE PHYSICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN GROUPS AND THE NEED TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM OF MR. DE SCHUTTER'S MESSAGE MOVING FORWARD, WE WANT TO ENGAGE DISCUSSION ON PAST AND PRESENT EXPERIENCES, FUTURE GOALS, AND HOW EACH MIGHT PROCEED. WE WILL SHARE THE INFORMATION WITH PARTICIPANTS SO, AS A GROUP, WE CAN WORK TOWARDS MEASURABLE CHANGE.

PAST NEWS ITEMS

Cooperatives build a better world through food

Childhood hunger is a Canadian public health crisis

Obesity, diabetes linked to food insecurity: report

The cost of food has jumped worldwide, up to an astonishing 80 per cent

Early thaw and late freeze lay waste to Ontario’s orchards

UN to investigate Canada's broken food system

Report on Canadian visit of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier De Schutter (May 6-16, 2012)

A Community Based Food System
(Virginia Cooperative Extension)

Evaluating Outcomes of Community Food Actions-A Guide
(pt 1 of 3)

Resetting the Table-A Peoples Food Policy for Canada (foodsecurecanada.org)

Measurement and Analysis Companion
(pt 2 of 3)

Local Food Initiatives in Canada
(Canadian Cooperative Association)

Evaluation Planning Worksheets
(pt 3 of 3)

FOOD SECURITY WORKING GROUP SURVEY
(click icon)
FOR GREY,BRUCE, HURON, PERTH & WELLINGTON COUNTY PARTICIPANTS

In this section you can read news items regarding local food issues in Ontario