Implementation of the Saskatoon Food Charter

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1 Implementation of the Saskatoon Food Charter R A C H E L E N G L E R - S T R I N G E R, P H D A S S I S T A N T P R O F E S S O R D E P A R T M E N T O F C O M M U N I T Y H E A L T H A N D E P I D E M I O L O G Y 2 ND S A S K A T C H E W A N F O O D S U M M I T F E B R U A R Y 2 7,

2 Outline History of Saskatoon Food Charter The Food Charter Report Report recommendations Recent changes to municipal policies Saskatoon Region Food System Assessment Following up on other recommendations

3 Community Food Security Community food security exists when all community residents obtain a safe, personally acceptable, nutritious diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes healthy choices, community self-reliance and equal access for everyone. (Hamm & Bellows, 2003)

4 Sustainable Food System American Public Health Association provides healthy food to meet current food needs while maintaining healthy ecosystems that can also provide food for generations to come with minimal negative impact to the environment. A sustainable food system also encourages local production and distribution infrastructures and makes nutritious food available, accessible, and affordable to all. Further, it is humane and just, protecting farmers and other workers, consumers, and communities

5 Saskatoon Food Charter Adopted in principle by Saskatoon City Council in 2002 Contains five principles and areas for action: Food Security and Production, Food Security and Health, Food Security and Culture, Food Security and Justice and Food Security and Globalization

6 Saskatoon Food Charter, 2002 Food Security and Production Food is an integral part of the economy of Saskatoon and the surrounding area. A commitment to building bridges between urban and rural communities on food security will strengthen the food sector s self reliance, growth and development. Local agriculture is important to producers and consumers alike. Urban and rural food security initiatives will preserve local agricultural production, and build on the mutual interdependence of producers and consumers. The Farmers Market and the Good Food Box serve as viable models of this interaction with local farmers being able to market their products directly, and consumers being able to access nutritious, wholesome food. Urban agriculture can be advanced through the establishment of community gardens that contribute directly to the economic, environment and social life of city residents. Food must be produced in a manner that is environmentally sustainable, safe for consumption and socially just.

7 Saskatoon Food Charter, 2002 Food Security and Justice Food is more than a commodity. It is a basic right. Every Saskatoon resident should have access to an adequate supply of nutritious, affordable and safe food without social and economic barriers. In Saskatoon, we must work with those communities most affected by lack of access to nutritious, affordable and safe food. Food Security and Health Food security contributes to the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional wellbeing of residents. Nutrition education and consumption of wholesome, healthy foods are important factors in determining the overall positive health of the city s population, and this begins with the promotion of healthy eating practices as early as birth with breast feeding.

8 Saskatoon Food Charter, 2002 Food Security and Culture Food brings people together in the celebration of family and community, strengthening links between diverse cultures and urban and rural communities. The preparing, eating and sharing of food engages individuals and families in a social and community fellowship that balances physical and spiritual needs. Food is a social good that sustains and supports us and our communities. Food Security and Globalization Any international agreements entered into by our governments must respect the full realization of people s right to adequate, nutritious, accessible, affordable, safe food at home and internationally. National, provincial and local governments must guarantee the right of communities and individuals to food security through supporting viable, sustainable, agricultural production and an equitable income distribution.

9 Food Charter Report Organizations, groups and individuals who were doing work in one or more areas of the Food Charter within Saskatoon were identified. Short interviews were conducted in Summer Topics included: How work supports community food security (and Charter) Challenges faced in furthering their work towards community food security Policies that are beneficial/prohibitive to work of the group

10 Some Key Challenges - Production Organic certification Need for small and specialty local abattoirs and other local processing Local storage facilities Lack of access to unused urban lands for food production Inconsistent financial and other supports for community gardens

11 Some Key Challenges - Justice Challenges accessing sufficient nutritious foods for food charities to distribute Lack of commercial or well-equipped kitchen facilities for different types of cooking initiatives Need for more culturally appropriate cooking classes and food services

12 Some Key Challenges - Health Food environments do not support healthy eating, especially in low-income neighbourhoods (better access to unhealthy vs healthy food) Lack of support for breastfeeding, such as human milk bank and feeding in public

13 Some Key Challenges - Culture Culture of cheap food Lack of access to traditional foods and procurement practices for Aboriginal peoples Access to healthy food appropriate to food cultures of immigrant newcomers

14 Some Key Challenges - Globalization Equity within food trade systems, both locally and internationally

15 Key Report Recommendations Local food system assessment Broad re-thinking of how municipal policies can better support urban and peri-urban food production Directory of local producers and products Funding for a Food Charter Animator Partnerships with school boards Prevent food deserts, limit food swamps Buy local and healthy food policies Institutional ethical purchasing practices Support for local processing and storage (infrastructure) Support for new and young farmers and new local food businesses

16 Changes to Municipal Policies Policy change in 2010 to allow non-profit organizations to utilize vacant city lots to maintain a garden. New community gardening policy in 2011 with clearer process for how neighbourhoods can set up and manage community gardens City is reviewing its standards for the establishment of new parks one consideration is promoting and planning for the establishment of community gardens City has also been working on a policy to promote healthy food in Leisure Centers and civic facilities

17 Saskatoon Food System Assessment Partnership between CHEP Good Food, Saskatoon Food Coalition, Saskatoon Health Region, City of Saskatoon Environmental scan Asset and gap analysis Community priority setting Recommendations for action Plan of action

18 Conclusions Lots happening in and around Saskatoon to support community food security, but there is so much more that could be done with supportive: 1) policies and regulations, 2) infrastructure, 3) collaboration between organizations, 4) incentives (taxation, granting, training, etc)

19 Thank You Justin Harder who did most of the hard work involved in putting together the report The Saskatoon Food Coalition that helped with preparing the initial list of individuals and organizations to contact and reviewed drafts All the people who gave of their time to be interviewed for the report Community-University Institute for Social Research for editing and printing report