URBAN AGRICULTURE: Part 1 - Current Trends - Urban Agriculture and
Food Security Initiatives in Canada
While there is skepticism of the abilities of
urban food production to feed cities, evidence is being gathered that great
possibility exists for feeding urban populations closer to home. Beyond pure
food production, the ability to decrease transportation costs, provide
employment and increase green space in cities are proving to be other strong
motivators for action. We found most food production organizing to be around
community and allotment gardening, rooftop gardening, and backyard gardens and
urban farms. Many expressed that limited access to land, bylaw restrictions,
input requirements, and restrictive urban planning were challenges to seeing
the full potential for urban food production. Among examples of the initiatives
listed in the report are Community gardens in Montreal, and the Rooftop Garden
Resource Group.
Many organizations across Canada are working
cooperatively with market gardeners, regional farmers and urban dwellers to
create alternative food distribution and purchasing models. This document
highlights alternative marketing in the forms of Community Supported
Agriculture and Farmers Markets, as well as alternative purchasing through
forms of food cooperatives, buying clubs, and Community Kitchens as strategies
to reclaim control of food systems. Case studies chosen as good examples of
viable distribution and purchasing initiatives are FoodShare of Toronto,
and Regroupment des Cuisines Collectives du Quebec.
An important aspect of distribution is access
to food. Currently many Canadians have a varied and nutritious diet year round,
but many do not. The use of emergency food distribution services is steadily
rising and we have also featured initiatives whose objectives are to improve
individuals access to food and building self reliance through gardening, such
as the Canadian Association of Food Banks and the Cambridge Self-Help Food
Bank.
Food Education and Skills Development
efforts at the community level are also explored in this report. Almost all
non-governmental and community based organizations linked to food security
issues offer resources, information and educational opportunities to the
public. Many also host Youth and adult skills developmentprograms such as
LifeCycles of Victoria, and the Environmental Youth Alliance of Vancouver.
The following information is meant to point
researchers and the public to organizations that are working on different
aspects of food security and make known tangible community based organizing
efforts. This document is testimony to the scope and breadth of community based
actions in Canada. In the final section you will a bibliography, a list of
resource groups and a directory of organizations by region that is
cross-referenced to the chapter of the report referring to its work and focus.
The intent of this document is to inform both
the research community of grassroots capacity and the general public
about food security issues. To this end, the focus of the report is
information rather than analysis. There is a lack of in-depth research,
analysis and evaluation on the role Canadian community organizations
play in addressing food security issues. It is hoped that this document will
encourage and contribute to a comprehensive approach to food security issues in
Canada.
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