À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ

The reports below are organized in terms of their relevance for people working for change within the:

Ìýpublic sector (state-led programs and policies),

Ìý Ìýprivate sector (private businesses), and the

Ìý.

Reports

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Assessment type:ÌýResource providing links to affordable programsÌý

Author(s):ÌýRegion of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ

Year:Ìý2022

Synopsis:ÌýThis source provides links to affordable programs for those who need them. It also contains information on healthy eating at a low cost.

ÌýÀ¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region Indigenous equity and AR food strategy concept draft

Assessment type:ÌýOutlines Indigenous Equity and Anti-racism and how it can be integrated into the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region Food Strategy

Author(s):ÌýCalder, E. with Scott, S. & Koberinski, J.Ìý

Year:Ìý2021

Synopsis:ÌýEquity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) policies across Canadian institutions, organizations and companies are shifting the landscape of how anti-racism and Indigenous equity is practiced. In the area of food systems planning, we have a lot of ground to cover in terms of harmonizing our regional and municipal food policies and strategies with national and international agreements and contractual commitments. To start, Anti-racism and Indigenous Equity Units are being established at the regional and municipal level governments in À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region. We can continue to build on progressive efforts by implementing strategic actions, backed by policy changes and funding allocation, reflecting the multi-faceted ways structural racism impacts food insecurity. The paperÌýoutlines key recommendations or action items that could be incorporated into a broader food systems planning strategy for the Region. Action items are elaborated on in six À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region Food Strategy categories: access to food, urban/rural agriculture, hunger and malnutrition, food literacy and diet, economic policy priorities and incentives, and overall/general.Ìý

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Assessment type:ÌýToolkit on starting a school garden project

Author(s):ÌýPopovic R.N., C., & Pigott, K.

Year:Ìý2019

Synopsis:ÌýThis School Gardens Guide can be used as a planning tool and guide by any school wishing to start a school garden project. Five interconnected areas work together to plan and implement school food gardens: 1. Student engagement 2. School and classroom leadership 3. Curriculum, teaching and learning 4. Social and physical environment 5. Home, school, and community partnerships. The Six-Step Healthy Schools Process guides a school community through planning and implementing activities or projects: 1. Establishing a school team. 2. Assessment of the school and broader community's needs and assets. 3. Identifying a priority health topic. 4. Developing a clear and realistic action plan. 5. Taking action and monitoring process. 6. Celebration of successes and evaluation of impacts. The guide also helps with garden installation, including garden site selection, mapping of school grounds, garden design, finding resources and creating a budget, garden preparation, garden planting, garden growing, harvesting, and finding local resources.Ìý

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Assessment type:ÌýStudent surveys on campus food options and impacts of diet

Author(s):ÌýMaynard, M., Lahey, D. & Abraham, A.

Year:Ìý2018Ìý

Synopsis:ÌýMeal Exchange's Campus Food Report Card measures the success of Ontario universities in providing locally-grown, sustainable, healthy, accessible food, as rated by students and campuses themselves, as well as the physical food environment.ÌýThe Campus Food Report Card is composed of three components: The Student Satisfaction Survey, the Campus 2025 À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Survey, and the Campus Food Outlet Checklist. This report looks at food options around campus, and their dietary affects. It discusses data collectedÌýfrom student surveys.

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Assessment type: Consultation report of Young City Growers stakeholders

Author(s):ÌýAmes, L.

Year:Ìý2017

Synopsis: Young city growers is a new and growing urban farm initiative. This report shares the opinions, concerns, and values of the Young City Growers stakeholders, as maintaining and fostering connections is an integral part of the project's core mission. Consultation took form in interviews with key partners and stakeholders. The key problems identified include limited capacity, financial stability and the clarity of communications between the initiative and its stakeholders. Recommendations for improving communication and strengthening relations between Young City Growers and its stakeholders include an emphasis on storytelling to accurately represent their mission and establishing an intern/volunteer role with a focus on communications.Ìý

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Assessment type:ÌýLiterature summary and scan results on À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region school gardens

Author(s):ÌýCommunity Garden Council of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region,ÌýPrepared by Sustainable Societies Consulting Group for Community Garden Council of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region and Region of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ. À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, ON, Canada.

Year:Ìý2016

Synopsis:ÌýThis report presents a summary of the key literature on school gardens, and of the results of a scan of school gardens in the Region of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ. The Community Garden Council of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region (CCG) is a grassroots association established to support the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region Community Garden Network (WRCGN). They focus on youth engagement and education in sustainable food growth. Schools are increasingly being recognized as important health and wellbeing promotion sites as they linkÌýstudent cognitive, social, emotional, and physical wellbeing and academic success. Thus, school gardens have become a tool in building the "Foundation for a Healthy School." The CCG commissioned a School Garden Scan to best understand how to promote school gardens, develop best practices, and propose recommendations. This involved a key literature and policy review, school board surveys and key stakeholder interviews. Results revealed the multi-actor benefits of school gardens where they are implemented, but also the challenges in initiating and maintaining school gardens due to time, funding, staff support, and school infrastructure barriers. Recommendations include increasing community partnerships and developing guidelines and resources for community gardens.Ìý

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Assessment type:ÌýInvestigating the dimensions of the food environment in the food experiences of immigrants in À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region.Ìý

Author(s):ÌýRodriguez, P.I., Dean, J., Kirkpatrick, S., Berbary, L. & Scott, S.Ìý

Year:Ìý2016

Synopsis:ÌýThis exploratory study aimed to shed light on the role of the food environment in shaping food access among immigrants living in the Region of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, Ontario. This qualitative case study uses in-depth interviews with nine immigrants, key informant (KI) interviews with nine community stakeholders holding expert knowledge of the local food system and immigrants interacting with it.ÌýThis paperÌýfocuses specifically on insights related to the food environment, applying the Analysis Grid for Environments Linked to the Obesity Framework to assess economic, physical, socio-cultural and political aspects. The paper discusses economic, geographic, social, cultural and political factors in interactions with the food environment.ÌýThis exploratory case study is consistent with prior research in highlighting the economic constraints within which food access exists but suggests that there may be a need to further dissect food environments.Ìý

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Assessment type:ÌýInvestigating the intersection of food swamps and student food experiencesÌý

Author(s):ÌýTarana Persaud

Year:Ìý2016

Synopsis:ÌýSince its official definition in 1996 at the World Food Summit, food security has been a focal point in the development of living spaces, with the aim of ensuring that sufficient, healthy food is accessible to all. However, meeting the criteria of food security as defined has proved to be problematic in society. Consequently, researchers and policy makers have identified many challenges to achieving universal food security, with a recent focus on urban areas. One such challenge has been described as ‘food swamps’, which are areas where food availability and accessibility are adequate, but processed and calorie-dense foods dominate the market in place of healthy foods. Recent research in À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region identifies food swamps as a major obstacle in achieving food and nutrition security, resulting in unhealthy and/or processed foods being more readily available and in higher quantities than healthier alternatives.There is evidence that suggests a correlation between poor food consumption habits and the academic outcome and general well-being of students. Using this as a starting point, this research has two primary objectives: (1) to document the extent to which students who reside in À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region are exposed to food swamps and (2) to understand the relationship students maintain with their food environment, and whether a sustainable food system as a concept is perceived to have value.

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Assessment type:ÌýAn agricultural census bulletins over the years in À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region

Author(s):ÌýRegion of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ

Year:Ìý2016

Synopsis:ÌýThis source looks at many agricultural census bulletins from varying years in the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region.ÌýIn 2016, there were 1,374 farms in À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region, covering 214,975 acres of land.ÌýOf these, 69 per cent raised livestock, while the remaining 31 per cent grew crops. In 2015, farms in À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region generated $563.6 million in revenue, up $90.7 million from 2010. For more information, please see the 2016 Census Bulletin on Agriculture.

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Assessment type:ÌýReport on economic and environmental impacts of regional food systemsÌý

Author(s):ÌýMacRae, R.

Year:Ìý2015

Synopsis:ÌýThis report examines the economic and environmental impacts of regional food systems, and looks at the effects of increasing food production on the food system. It acknowledges the important contribution the food system makes towards Ontario's economy, but also its environmental impact as measured by indicators of environmental analysis. The study specifically focused on traffic pollutant emissions to estimate the environmental impact of transporting agricultural products — and how changes in the food system might affect this.

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Assessment type:ÌýGIS study analysis of land potential for urban agriculture in À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, ON

Author(s):ÌýCaitlin M. Port & Markus Moos

Year:Ìý2014Ìý

Synopsis:ÌýThis study uses Geographic Information System analysis to measure the land potential for urban agriculture in four sub-urban neighbourhoods in À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, Ontario.ÌýFindings show that 49–58% of land measured has the potential to support urban agriculture.ÌýChallenges and opportunities for urban agriculture will differ between new and older sub-urban areas due to differences in neighbourhood design.ÌýThe findings have implications for planning practice in terms of linkages between neighbourhood design and urban agricultural potential.ÌýConceptually, consideration of sub-urban agriculture opens up the possibility of exploring a novel dimension of the now internally diverse sub-urban landscape and the changing functions of suburbs within metropolitan areas.

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Assessment type:ÌýOverview of the City of Kitchener Official Plan

Author(s):ÌýCity of Kitchener

Year:Ìý2014

Synopsis:ÌýThe Official Plan is a legal document that contains goals, objectives and policies to manage and direct physical and land use change and their effects on the cultural, social, economic and natural environment within the city. This Plan provides a framework for decision making and plays a number of essential roles in the future planning of the city.

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Assessment type:ÌýStudy on food waste research and the role of food environmentsÌý

Author(s):ÌýIsabel Helena Urrutia Schroeder

Year:Ìý2014

Citation:ÌýFood Wastage in the Region of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, Ontario. UWSpace.Ìý

Synopsis:ÌýThis paper discusses food waste in Canada, exploring the mechanisms that increase food waste in order to formulate an understanding of how to create solutions. Food wastage has direct and indirect environmental impacts ranging from unnecessary waste of inputs to produce food to food waste disposal. To create targeted food waste reduction strategies, better understandings of the drivers of food waste levels in Canada must be first established. This study uses online surveys, case study household food wastage collections, and case study interviews to do just that. This study confirms many of the findings from other food waste research, but also emphasizes the role of food environments (e.g. retail environments and access to grocery stores) and environmental triggers (e.g. time constraints) in household food wastage. These findings highlight the complexity of the issue of food wastage, and the need for strategies that go beyond targeting household behaviours.

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Assessment type:ÌýReport informing municipal decision-makers on the best local food practices

Author(s):ÌýDeloitte

Year:Ìý2013

Synopsis:ÌýThis guidebook provides municipalities with best practices to support and promote their local food industries. The objective of this report is to provide municipal decision makers with guidance on how to align municipal activities with the expectations outlined in Bill 36 and build on local food innovations and experiences in Ontario and other jurisdictions. This report was developed through extensive stakeholder consultations and secondary research. A total of 24 stakeholder consultations were conducted with 43 representatives from leading municipalities, regions and local food groups across Ontario, Canada and the United States.

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Assessment Type:ÌýReport studies food literacy among young people

Author(s):ÌýDesjardins, E. and Azevedo, E.

Year:Ìý2013

Synopsis:ÌýThis study utilized a strength-based (or assets based) approach. Food deskilling in the general population is an identified impediment to healthy eating as it creates reliance on unhealthy convenience foods and it exacerbates the strain of limited food budgets. For the two identified target groups (teens aged 16-19 years, and young parents and pregnant women aged 16-25 years), this project aimed toÌý(1) explore the meanings of food skills and develop a working definition; (2) identify the barriers and facilitators to food skills acquisition and practice; and (3) use the findings to inform programs and policies that could improve healthy food preparation among young people at risk for poor health.ÌýAnalysis showed that food skills, meanings and practices among the young people in the study encompassed not only technical ability and knowledge for preparing food, but also the mental health components of confidence, social connectedness and resilience. The study identified four external and environmental determinants that influence the ability to develop and action on food literacy, and provides related recommendations to overcome challenges to acquiring food literacy.ÌýÌý

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Assessment type:ÌýAnalysis of municipal and regional involvement in food policy workÌý

Author(s):ÌýDonahue, K. & MacRae, R.

Year:Ìý2013

Synopsis:ÌýThis report identifiesÌýthe diverse ways in which food policy work is unfolding, what the key activities are, and what numerous actors believe is their value to municipalities and the food chain. Three broad recommendations emerge from this scan of municipal and regional food policy initiatives across Canada. First, there is a need for actors and organizations working on municipal food policy across Canada to create a network to share information and best practices and build capacity for food policy work. Second, municipal food initiatives would benefit from identifying a range of ways to document and evaluate their work in order to demonstrate successful processes for social change as well as food system and other municipal/regional impacts. Third, policy makers at various government levels should clarify jurisdictional food policy connections and define the linkages between municipal food policy efforts and provincial and federal food, agriculture, public health, and other policy domains.

ÌýTowards a Regional Food System Alliance Development Strategy for the West Kootenay

Assessment type:ÌýAn analysis of best practices for forming and sustaining a regional food system alliance for the West Kootenay region

Author(s):ÌýSteinman, J.

Year:Ìý2011

Synopsis:ÌýThis report serves a number of purposes. Firstly, it is a stand-alone analysis of approaches to coordinate food system development work in the United States and Canada. Secondly, the report serves to inform the work of this project's start-up advisory committee and communicate a vision and recommendation for howÌý afoot system alliance in the region should function and what steps could be employed to realize this. Thirdly, a final recommendation from the committee will act as a guiding document for the development of a West Kootenay food system alliance and become a strong tool to help garner interest among possible funders who could support the alliance's start-up phase.ÌýÌý

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Assessment type:ÌýDocumentation of partnerships, data collection and community consultation, and food-related policies integrated into land use planning in À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region

Author(s):ÌýDesjardins, E., Lubczysnki, J., & Xuereb, M.

Year:Ìý2011

Synopsis:ÌýLand use planning is a critical tool among the strategies needed to redirect our food system onto a new trajectory toward improved health, environmental sustainability, and small to midsize farm viability. We present the case of the Region of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ, Ontario, Canada, where recent revisions to the Regional Official Plan (ROP) now include a suite of specific land use policies related to food. What characterizes food systems planning in À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ is the inclusion of both rural and urban land use policies, and close collaboration between the Planning and Public Health departments. This article documents the context in which this partnership took shape, the process of information gathering and community consultation, and the specific food-related policies that were included in the ROP. The relevance of these policies to the local produce auction, community markets, community gardens, and on-farm stores illustrates how policy emerges from practice, and also suggests that policy work is an ongoing work in progress.

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Assessment type:ÌýLinking food insecurity to culture and religion and the food system

Author(s):ÌýKhan, Y.

Year:Ìý2011

Synopsis:ÌýThis paper acknowledges the importance of linking culture and religion in the food insecurity definition, which is especially relevant for Canada as a multicultural society. Food security criteria (physical and economic access to food, religious and cultural adequacy of food and the food system's environmental and social effects) were applied to a case study in À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region by examining regional policies and initiatives to address food insecurity. This analysis of the case study findings reveals that in most cases the current food system of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region is largely industrial and contains major gaps in fulfilling the criteria of access, sustainability, social justice, and cultural and spiritual attitudes.ÌýFinally, this study recommends a broader multicultural policy at the regional government level to include the issues of immigrants.

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Assessment type:ÌýThe operations of the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region Neighborhood Market InitiativeÌý

Author(s):ÌýSEontario

Year:ÌýBegan 2011

Synopsis:ÌýThe À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region Neighbourhood Market Initiative operates two farmers’ markets in Kitchener and Cambridge. The purpose of these markets is to provide local people in the Kitchener-Cambridge communities, and the surrounding area, with fresh local vegetables and fruits throughout the summer and fall months. This gives local farmers an opportunity to sell their goods at a fair price to people in the community, for people in the community to become market volunteers to help vendors, and to educate individuals and families about nutrition. This article outlines the À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region Neighborhood Market Initiatives' products and services and its health, economic and community benefits, its successes, its challenges and lessons learned, its development and structure, its physical, human, financial, and community/social resources, its funding, and its vision for the future.Ìý

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Assessment type:ÌýStudy on planning food production for a growing population in À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region

Author(s):ÌýDesjardins, E., MacRae, R. & Schumilas, T.

Year:Ìý2010

Synopsis:ÌýRegional planning for improved agricultural capacity to supply produce, legumes, and whole grains has the potential to improve population health as well as the local food economy. This case study of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region (WR) had two objectives. First, toÌýestimate the quantity of locally grown vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains needed to help meet the Region of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ population’s optimal nutritional requirements currently and in 2026. Secondly, toÌýestimate how much of these healthy food requirements for the WR population could realistically be produced through local agriculture by the year 2026.ÌýResults show that a shift of approximately 10% of currently cropped hectares to the production of key nutritious foods would be both agriculturally feasible and nutritionally significant to the growing population. Findings were supplemented with agronomic considerations and community level strategies that would inform and support such change.ÌýThe methodology of this study could be applied to other regions: more such analyses would create a broader picture of the diverse qualitative and quantitative agricultural shifts that could synchronize optimal land use with dietary recommendations, thus informing coordinated policy and planning.

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Assessment type:ÌýCross-sectional survey on consumption patterns among À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region residents

Author(s):ÌýNesbitt, A., Majowicz, S., Finley, R.Ìýet al.Ìý

Year:Ìý2010

Synopsis:ÌýThe objective of this study was to describe, for the first time, the food consumption patterns in a Canadian-based population from a food safety perspective, in order to establish baseline data on actual food intake of individuals. This report details aÌýcross-sectional telephone survey of 2,332 randomly selected residents of À¶Ý®ÊÓƵ Region, Ontario, Canada. Results showed consumption of certain foods varied by gender and age, such as food considered high-risk of enteric pathogen transmission was more likely to be consumed by males and elderly individuals. Additionally, the majority of households prepared and consumed most meals at home, allocating an average of 44 minutes to prepare a meal.ÌýBaseline data on actual food intake is useful to public health professionals and food safety risk assessors for developing communication messages to consumers and in foodborne outbreak investigations.

ÌýGovernment action to promote food system sustainability (PDF)

Assessment type:ÌýGraphic based off of Dr. Steffanie Scott's videoÌýÌý

Author:ÌýScott, S.Ìý

Year:Ìýn.d.

Synopsis:ÌýThis graphic outlines key recommendations to promote food system sustainability through government action. This includes specific recommendations on developing aÌý food strategy, Indigenous leadership and landback, promoting a circular economy, adopting regenerative agriculture for healthy soils and water, and food re-localization and a planetary health diet.Ìý