Participatory modeling of the food system: The case of community-based systems dynamics

2022 ◽  
pp. 257-283
Author(s):  
Alannah R. Glickman ◽  
Jill K. Clark ◽  
Darcy A. Freedman
Keyword(s):  
Food System ◽  
Systems Dynamics ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Participatory Modeling

scholarly journals The effect of acute and chronic food shortage on human population equilibrium in a subsistence setting

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua-Michael Tomiyama ◽  
Daisuke Takagi ◽  
Michael B. Kantar
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
World Population ◽  
Systems Dynamics ◽  
Additional Parameter ◽  
Balanced Approach ◽  
Mass Starvation ◽  
Population Equilibrium

Abstract Background  World population is projected to reach 9–11 billion by 2050, raising concerns about food system security and sustainability. Modeling food systems are often a way to understand current and future dynamics. The most common model, first articulated by Malthus (Malthusian), shows population growth as an exponential function and food production as a linear function, concluding that human carrying capacity will be reached leading to mass starvation. Another prominent model was introduced by Boserup (Boserupian), which explains increases in food production as a function of population growth. Methodology  Here, we explore which food systems dynamics exist at equilibrium and after perturbation. The model introduced explores food availability in an isolated village and then in a line of villages. The isolated village model includes three key parameters: maximum calorie production (a), food production resilience (b), and minimum calorie requirement per person (c). The multiple village model adds an additional parameter for trade. Results  Isolated village populations are more resilient to famine than Malthusian theory predicts, suggesting that Malthus’ premise may be inaccurate. Predictably, across multiple villages increasing access and production reduce famine. However, under certain conditions large amounts of transport can lead to antagonist relationships leading to rapid changes in population. Conclusion  Food systems under both production and access scenarios proved to be resilient to small perturbations, requiring a large catastrophe to induce mortality; this appeared to discount the Malthusian model. This model can create dynamics where different modes of famine relief apply, but here we see that a balanced approach of both access and production appears to be the most resilient to famine.

scholarly journals Food for People in Place: Reimagining Resilient Food Systems for Economic Recovery

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 9369
Author(s):  
Kelly Dombroski ◽  
Gradon Diprose ◽  
Emma Sharp ◽  
Rebekah Graham ◽  
Louise Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Short Supply ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Essential Services

The COVID-19 pandemic and associated response have brought food security into sharp focus for many New Zealanders. The requirement to “shelter in place” for eight weeks nationwide, with only “essential services” operating, affected all parts of the New Zealand food system. The nationwide full lockdown highlighted existing inequities and created new challenges to food access, availability, affordability, distribution, transportation, and waste management. While Aotearoa New Zealand is a food producer, there remains uncertainty surrounding the future of local food systems, particularly as the long-term effects of the pandemic emerge. In this article we draw on interviews with food rescue groups, urban farms, community organisations, supermarket management, and local and central government staff to highlight the diverse, rapid, community-based responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings reveal shifts at both the local scale, where existing relationships and short supply chains have been leveraged quickly, and national scale, where funding has been mobilised towards a different food strategy. We use these findings to re-imagine where and how responsibility might be taken up differently to enhance resilience and care in diverse food systems in New Zealand.

scholarly journals COVID-19 responses: Food policy councils are “stepping in, stepping up, and stepping back"

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Anne Palmer ◽  
Abiodun Atoloye ◽  
Karen Bassarab ◽  
Larissa Calancie ◽  
Raychel Santo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Food Chain ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Racial Equity ◽  
School Food ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Early Results ◽  
Food Policy Councils

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, food policy councils (FPCs) have emerged as a critical struc¬ture for organizing community-based responses to multiple food system issues. Strong relationships with various food system stakeholders have proven essential in inspiring coordinated action. Using the early results of a Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future survey of FPCs (2020), we discuss some of the accomplishments and contributions that 118 FPCs have made toward addressing hunger and supporting producers, school food, food chain workers, racial equity, and resilience in the United States and in tribal nations.

Farmworker-Led Food Movements Then and Now

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern
Keyword(s):  
Food System ◽  
Alternative Food ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Ethnographic Fieldwork ◽  
Food Movements ◽  
Alternative Food Movement ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Coalition Of Immokalee Workers ◽  
Food Movement

Based on ethnographic fieldwork with farmworkers and farmworker advocates in California and Florida, this chapter explores the progress made by farmworker-led, consumer-supported movements for farmworker justice. It argues for the need to break down divides between producer and consumer, rural and urban, and individual and community based approaches to changing the food system. It contends that farmworker-led consumer-based campaigns and solidarity movements, such as the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ (CIW) current Campaign for Fair Food, and The United Farmworkers’ historical grape boycotts, successfully work to challenge agrarian imaginaries, drawing consumers into movement-based actions. This research illustrates the possibilities for alternative food movement advocates and coalitions to build upon farmworker-led campaigns and embrace workers as leaders.

scholarly journals Insights from the Think&EatGreen@School Project: How a community-based action research project contributed to healthy and sustainable school food systems in Vancouver

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-46
Author(s):  
Alejandro Rojas ◽  
Jennifer Black ◽  
Elena Orrego ◽  
Gwen Chapman ◽  
Will Valley
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Action Research Project ◽  
School Food ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
School Project

From 2010 to 2016 the Think&EatGreen@School project worked to create healthy and sustainable school food systems in the Vancouver School Board.  Using models of Community-Engaged Scholarship and Community-Based Action Research, we implemented diverse programmatic and monitoring activities to provide students and teachers with hands-on food cycle education, in order to influence policy, and to encourage university students to engage actively with the food system. Our focus was on transformation of local school food systems as a context-specific means to address serious global issues related to food security, health and environmental sustainability. This paper provides a synthesis of the project including the context that led to its inception, its overarching goals, methodological framework and areas of impact.  Key learnings from this project highlight the need for continued work to integrate research, teaching and action on global food security, environmental and public health challenges and to build connections to create healthy, sustainable school food systems. 

scholarly journals A collaborative approach to COVID-19 response: The Center for Environmental Farming Systems community-based food system initiatives

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Shorlette Ammons ◽  
Sarah Blacklin ◽  
Dara Bloom ◽  
Shironda Brown ◽  
Marcello Cappellazzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Local Food ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Local Food Systems ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Community Partners ◽  
Racial Lines ◽  
Structural Inequities

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) has spent the past two decades developing local food systems to support communities and increase resilience. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how existing structural inequities, primarily along racial lines, are exacerbated. It has also shown the value of community-based food systems work that helps communities network, sharing valuable resources and funding to respond to the ongoing crisis. In this article, we document how CEFS’ community-based food systems initiatives are responding to the pandemic. Some of CEFS programs are community-based, working with food policy councils, offering racial equity trainings, networking schools and early care and education sites, and supporting youth convenings and internships. Others are focused on production and supply chains for meat, seafood, and produce in order to develop stronger local food systems. Through­out the work of all of CEFS’ community-based food systems initiatives in response to the pandemic, we have learned that our past efforts have increased local food systems resilience. We also note the impor­tance of flexible funders who allowed grant dollars to be reallocated to community partners to address urgent needs. We have found that online programming has increased participation and access to resources. Finally, we have been inspired by the creativity, flexibility, and adaptability of our community partners, and we are energized to continue to support them while also offering the resources we have developed to a broader audience.

scholarly journals Working Co-operatively for Sustainable and Just Food System Transformation

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Poppy Nicol ◽  
Alice Taherzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Policy Transfer ◽  
Community Supported Agriculture ◽  
Future Research ◽  
System Transformation ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Food Hubs ◽  
Justice And Care ◽  
Scaling Out

Co-operative ways of working can be understood as people-centred approaches. This article considers how co-operative ways of working have the potential to support the scaling-out of sustainable and just food systems in the context of Wales through people-centred change. Drawing upon a series of interviews with stakeholders involved in the sustainable and the co-operative food sector within Wales and international case studies, opportunities and challenges facing the scaling-out of sustainable and just food systems are considered. Findings demonstrate the potential of co-operative and community-based approaches to sustainable production, processing, distribution, and trading of healthy food that is affordable, culturally appropriate, and based upon an ethic of justice and care for land, workers, and animals. Community supported agriculture, incubator farms, food hubs, and platform co-operatives are identified as key mechanisms for sustainable and just food systems. Capacity building through education, information, and training are further critical foundations for co-operative and people-centred ways of working. In order to accelerate sustainable and just food futures, community-based participation, networks for training, access to resources and land, and transformative forms of governance, including legislative change, are key. We conclude by highlighting implications for future research into policy transfer and food system transformation.

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