Do You Eat? Of course you do!

Do you know what’s in your food? Where it comes from? Why it costs so much?

Did you know that Canada has no official Food Policy?

Canada currently has no food policy or strategy.  Food is currently looked after by municipal, provincial and federal governments.  At the federal level 7 ministries including health, foreign affairs, agriculture and fisheries govern a piece of the food pie.  In order to overcome the complex problems that we face today (including the loss of young farmers, obesity, poverty, etc.)  we must work together across our differences to find a way forward.

Thirty years ago, a group of activists created the People’s Food Commission (PFC). The Commission toured the country, holding hearings in 75 communities which explored how food systems affected ordinary Canadians: farmers, fisher people, housewives, poor people, trade unionists, academics, artists and others. Unfortunately, this change has not materialized. The policy framework supporting the industrialized food system and its social, environmental and economic costs is still firmly in place – even as the advent of ‘Peak Oil’ and climate change make a new approach imperative.

Socially, however, much has changed in the past 30 years. There is a growing movement of people who have been moved to action by awareness of the deep problems in the food system, especially those related to hunger, pollution, and chronic disease.

Current production systems churn out large amounts of food at low prices, but can harm the environment, encourage over-consumption of unhealthy foods, and – despite huge productive capacity – leave many people unfed. We can make enough food for everyone, yet the number of humans who are undernourished or starving recently surpassed one billion, according to the UN World Food Program.

In contrast, the “bottom line” for Canadians, is that by ignoring the ancient relationships between us and the lands and waters we inhabit, by exploiting, degrading and destroying our food resources, we will not be able to sustain ourselves for much longer.

From local to global, such pressing issues are all affected by food policy, which is not just theoretical. It’s the network of decisions at local, regional, national, and international levels that determines what food is available and what we’re likely to eat. Food policy is dynamic, and you can be part of it.

Taking Action Current strategic actions.

Click here Food Secure Canada.

Click here Why Canada Needs a Food Policy

Join the conversation Eleanor Boyle on Food Policies, Sustainable Food, Attainable Health

 

Key Proposals Canada