Food security is a term that can used both to refer to ensuring people have adequate access to healthy food and to refer to emerging discussions on securing the food supply for entire countries. The statistics on the number of individuals in North America without access to a secure source of food are surprising given the level of wealth in the continent as well as the level of food that is wasted every day.
One of the most interesting recent trends in food security has been the emergence of “Mobile Food Markets.” Mobile fresh markets (MFM) are a social innovation for increasing access to healthy food in areas with limited access (eg: food deserts). While mobile markets are clearly not a new invention per se, using MFMs as a strategy for increasing food access in low income, food insecure areas is a new approach. MFMs have been increasing in popularity in the US for the past five years and are beginning to make an appearance in Canadian Cities. Follow the file link below to download a 2 pager that summarizes what MFMs are, how they operate, and strategies for developing financial break-even models. http://www.urbanfoodstrategies.com/company-news/
An Agricultural Urbanism project endeavours to:
- Provide the widest access to food possible, from places to grow your own, to food banks; and
- Support the greatest local food supply possible through enhancing each element of the food system within the region.
Below are some resources and information on food security issues.
- Economic Research Service of the USDA – The ERS is the main source of economic information and research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Its web site provides a wealth of information on topics from nutrition to food consumption to biotechnology and agriculture. www.ers.usda.gov
- National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth – This site offers resources and information related to educating homeless youth on nutrition. http://www.naehcy.org/educational-resources/food
- American Dietetics Assoc paper on food insecurity – A good paper from the Association on the issues related to food insecurity in the USA. http://www.eatright.org/About/Content.aspx?id=8361
- Food Banks of Canada – This site provides a map for finding food banks across Canada. http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/utility-pages/find-a-food-bank.aspx
- Do food banks work? – This links to a University of Toronto study done on the effectiveness of food banks and access to them. http://www.research.utoronto.ca/do-food-banks-work/
- Household food insecurity in Canada – This government site from Health Canada offers links to a wide range of information on food insecurity in Canada. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/surveill/nutrition/commun/insecurit/index-eng.php
- Feeding America – This is a good portal site for information on food insecurity in the USA. https://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-studies/hungers-new-staple.aspx
- The cost of poverty – This report by the Food Banks of Ontario looks at the economic costs and implications of poverty and food insecurity. http://www.oafb.ca/assets/pdfs/CostofPoverty.pdf
- The economics of who’s hungry – This is an interesting piece looking at who faces food insecurity and an economic view of the issue. http://economics.about.com/library/weekly/aa043004e.htm
- The debate over food banks – This Huffington Post article looks at the current debate in the UK over food banks and addressing food insecurity. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-hobbes/the-fascinating-debate-ov_b_3637886.html
- Climate change risks to food supply – This New York Times article looks at an overview of the risks climate change may pose to the food supply. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/02/science/earth/science-panel-warns-of-risks-to-food-supply-from-climate-change.html?_r=0
- Food and Terrorism
- The many faces of food security – http://www.foodquality.com/details/article/816867/The_Many_Faces_of_Food_Security.html?tzcheck=1
- Can food security stop terrorism? – http://www.cfr.org/publication/by_type/backgrounder.html
- Food and agriculture targets for terrorism – http://www.cfr.org/homeland-security/targets-terrorism-food-agriculture/p10197
- Food Defense – http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs126; http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodDefense/ToolsEducationalMaterials/ucm353774.htm ; http://www.foodsafetymagazine.com/magazine-archive1/augustseptember-2013/the-expanding-umbrella-of-food-defense/ ;