Menu 2020Ten Good Food Ideas for Ontario

Alivya WinebergKatarina Zlatanovic

The Good Food Gap

- Global phenomenon- Policy space separating the farm

income crisis from health crisis- Farmers find it difficult to make a living

and consumers find it difficult to make good food choices

The Farming Crisis● Average market net income for farmers has been below

that of 1930s levels.● Most of the money consumers are spending on

food is going to the middle men (distributors, and processors) rather than the original food producer

● Ontario’s agricultural policy is skewed towards exportingo exports have grown 28% while imports have grown

32% in the last decadeMain problems in the sector include:

-Farmers are aging without others to replace them-Ontario lost 15% of its farms between 1996 and 2006.-People are moving out of Ontario Countryside

The Health Crisis

Food Desert: neighbourhoods in which people are unable to purchase good food locally- public transit to supermarkets are not frequency or lacking completely-Unhealthy food environments lead to unhealthy peopleObesity statistics:

-26% of children, 28% of teens ,61% of adults-Exponential growth in the startling coexistence of malnutrition and obesity - Canada's immigrant population have a growing demand for culturally appropriate foods- Canada's immigrant population demands for appropriate foods - 3 consequences of the health crisis-

Foundations of a Good Food GapThe good food gap lies between the farm income crisis and the health crisis.● Canada’s Agricultural Policy is based on the

recognition that agriculture provides a number of public goods to society, but requires support from the government to do so.

● Canada’s Health Policy is based on the assumption that access to health care should be universal

The reality however..

● The current Healthcare system can’t control health care expenditures, hasn’t lowered the rate of sickness and disease, and has not cultivated a culture of health and wellness

● The current “state support system structures” for agriculture are not designed to support farm viability, strong rural economies, environmentally sound production practices, food safety or the protection of biodiversity

The good food gap has arisen because the approaches to agriculture on one side, and health care on the other, have failed.

The BridgePolicy frameworks offer a new way to think about farming, food and production.● The concept of multifunctionality was put

forward, recognizing agriculture as a multi-output activity which produces agricultural products, and non-food productsAgricultural Products Non-Food ProductsFood, Feed Environmental services

Agrofuels Landscape Amenities

Medicinal Products Cultural Heritage

Multifunctionality can be strengthened by health promotion perspectives.

This framework focused what was necessary for maintaining and improving Canadian’s Health:- Food, Shelter, Income, Social Equality, Economic

Stability, Sustainable Resources

Menu 2020 includes multifunctionality and is a policy that aligns food system policies with public health policies to promote economic viability and health.

Bridging the GapTo overcome the good food gap we must create structures and incentives that foster and connect health, sustainability, and economic viability in the food system.

Idea 1:Support Producers of Locally Consumed Fruit, Vegetables, and Meats

Where Is the Gap?- Reduced portions of food dollar that farmers receive - Consolidation of the retail sector- Low global commodity prices- rising energy and input costs

The Bridge- Prices are linked to costs, therefore the sectors are protected- Example: The grain and oilseed sector has a federal-provincial

cost shared risk management program that ensures the sectors cost of production is covered if the price were to drop

Bridging the Gap- Current programs do not provide adequate support to

farmers, and they underwrite unsustainable farming practices- Farmers need to be ensured a floor price for product

Idea 2:Harvest the Whole Value of Ecological Service from AgricultureGap: ● Lack of incentives and a market system that

doesn’t reward farmers for providing ecosystem services such as carbon offset initiatives to help their inclusion in carbon trading.

Bridge:● Programs exist that could close the gap by

compensating farmers for ecological services.

Bridging the Gap:● Implementing province-wide ecological

goods and services program in Ontario would close the gap between farmers and their role as environmental stewards.

Idea 3:Plant Urban OntarioGap:● The availability of land that could be cultivated in urban areas is

not an insurmountable barrier to urban agriculture● No established supply chains linking urban growers and urban

eaters● The outdated idea that farming is what happens in the country,

an idea reflected in government structures and taxation systemsBridge:● Provincial urban agriculture working groups should form to share

resources and tools to support urban agriculture across the province

Bridging the Gap: (Scaling up Urban Agriculture)● Spreading simple growing approaches through cities, involving

more people in more places● Enhancing the sophistication and productivity of urban

agricultural practices, that is, the development of commercial-scale agriculture capable of becoming part of the mainstream food-supply system

● ex. Toronto Urban Growers network

Idea 4:Expand Public Procurement of Local, Sustainably Produced FoodWhere Is the Gap?-Two trades agreement that affect Ontario procurement -Prohibits granting preferences to suppliers based on a variety of factors, including geographic locationThe BridgeLocal Food Plus

-Non-profit organization-Standards for production, labour-LFP helps institutional food service providers

Bridging the Gap-Procurement policy suited to Ontario’s context would be

shaped by international and interprovincial trade regulations-Would need strong leadership, clear definition of what

constitutes local, sustainably grown food

Idea 5:Link Good Food with Good HealthGap:● Ontario’s Food System is designed to support productivity and

economic efficiency● It is not designed around the principle of ensuring that people,

especially those living on low-incomes, women, children, and members of aboriginal communities, have access to a nutritious diet that would improve their health

Bridge:● Health Public Policy (HPP) is any policy that creates and

encourages a context for health● This Includes food, shelter, income, social inequality, economic

stability, and resource sustainabilityBridging the Gap:● Identifying the contributing factors and points of intervention;

defining the range of opportunities for action; evaluating potential interventions; and selecting a portfolio of policies, programs, and actions

Advancing Ontario’s Good Food IdeasPrioritize Local Food Economy- Prioritizing local food economy means shifting focus of

farm and food policies and programs away from capturing export markets and towards strengthening regional Ontario markets

Establish Community Food Centers- Neighbourhood and community food centres combat food

insecurity by ensuring healthy food is available- Community and food centres, school food programs can

link local farming and food directly to public health- These activities are essential to creating healthy food

environments and addressing rising rates of chronic disease

Cont’Reform Farm Programs:● Taxation, local food procurement policies, and

favourable legislation are needed● Farm programs must ensure viability of local

farms, and provide incentives for sustainable farming systems

● Possible Ontario Farm, Food, and Health Act to provide new policy that links local food to health

Improve Food System Governance:● Have a provincial food policy council that will be

cross-sectional and include decision makers from provincial and municipal governments

● Would have a clear mandate on food-systems issues and advise on their implementation

Conclusion- Article contributes to a broader discussion across

the provinces about broken food systems

- Offers innovative solutions which are being considered by farmers and food leaders

- Farm income crisis and health crises are caused by policy gap whereby two crises are addressed separately

- Bridging the gap requires policies and programs that reflect integrated thinking about health, sustainability, and economic vitality in food system

Comments and QuestionsWhen advancing Ontario’s Good Food Ideas, which one do you believe takes precedence?

Out of the five idea’s we gave you which idea do you think would have the greatest positive effect on Ontario?