FOOD SYSTEMS THINKING: SEEING THE BIG PICTURE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO TRANSFORM OUR FOOD SYSTEMS

Brent Mansfield, Arzeena Hamir and Sandra Hamilton

BC Association of Farmers’ Markets Conference

February 21, 2015

Shape of the Session

Introduction to food systems thinking - Brent Mansfield

Seeing and leveraging connections to increase production and make better connections to local markets - Arzeena Hamir

Seeing and leveraging connections to increase markets through local food procurement - Sandra Hamilton

Exploring connections together – Q&A

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Food Systems Thinking

What is ‘food systems thinking’? How can ‘food systems thinking’

be cultivated so that we can work together to transform our food systems?

Food Systems Thinking

“Food system thinking is a way of seeing the bigger picture, of developing solutions to food problems by seeing and leveraging their connections to other issues.”

Cultivating Food Connections: Towards a Healthy and Sustainable Food System for Toronto, Toronto Public Health, 2010

Food Systems Thinking - Seeing “Food system thinking” recognizes

that: complex issues are linked

MacRae & Donahue, Municipal Food Policy Entrepeneurs, 2013

Food Systems Thinking - Seeing “Food system thinking” recognizes

that: complex issues are linked there are multiple actors in the

system and they are connected

MacRae & Donahue, Municipal Food Policy Entrepeneurs, 2013

www.nourishlife.org/teach/curriculum/

www.nourishlife.org/teach/curriculum/

www.metrovancouver.org/PLANNING/DEVELOPMENT/AGRICULTUREANDFOOD/Pages/RegionalFoodSystemStrategy.aspx

From Heidi Bohan, The People of Cascadia

Food Systems Thinking - Seeing “Food system thinking” recognizes

that: complex issues are linked there are multiple actors in the

system and they are connected integrated solutions are required

MacRae & Donahue, Municipal Food Policy Entrepeneurs, 2013

Food Systems Thinking - Leveraging “Food system thinking” is a means

to: Link health, environment and justice

concerns with economic issues

Food Systems Thinking - Leveraging “Food system thinking” is a means

to: Link health, environment and justice

concerns with economic issues Make connections between different

scales

Food Systems Thinking - Leveraging “Food system thinking” is a means

to: Link health, environment and justice

concerns with economic issues Make connections between different

scales Engage and align diverse actors

Food Systems Thinking - Leveraging “Food system thinking” is a means

to: Link health, environment and justice

concerns with economic issues Make connections between different

scales Engage and align diverse actors Express and act on strategy

Seeing and leveraging connections to increase

production and make better connections to local markets

- Arzeena Hamir

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Seeing and leveraging connections to increase markets through local food procurement

- Sandra Hamilton

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Seeing and leveraging connections to transform our food

systems together- Reponses

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