scholarly journals An Inventory And Analysis Of Sustainable Food System Projects Implemented At Canadian Universities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruvena I. Buslovich
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Food System ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Canadian Universities ◽  
University Campuses ◽  
University Websites ◽  
Sustainable Food System

The purpose of this project is to conduct an analysis of sustainable food system (SFS) projects implemented at Canadian universities. An inventory of SFS projects on Canadian university campuses was developed through a detailed content analysis of university websites. Gaps in the existing programs were explored through interviews with representatives from 40 of the 201 identified SFS projects. The interviews addressed project operations, definitions, motivations, approvals processes, challenges, lessons learned, project future, links to other projects, suggestions to other projects, and additional comments. These interviews found that even across different SFS project categories, there are strong common lessons and suggestions that can be applied to other existing or new projects, such as channeling passion into starting projects despite the obstacles faced, and building support networks. These results will help other SFS projects in their quest to address the environmental, social, and economic challenges faced by the parts of the food system: production, processing, access, distribution, consumption, and waste management.

scholarly journals An Inventory And Analysis Of Sustainable Food System Projects Implemented At Canadian Universities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruvena I. Buslovich
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Food System ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Canadian Universities ◽  
University Campuses ◽  
University Websites ◽  
Sustainable Food System

The purpose of this project is to conduct an analysis of sustainable food system (SFS) projects implemented at Canadian universities. An inventory of SFS projects on Canadian university campuses was developed through a detailed content analysis of university websites. Gaps in the existing programs were explored through interviews with representatives from 40 of the 201 identified SFS projects. The interviews addressed project operations, definitions, motivations, approvals processes, challenges, lessons learned, project future, links to other projects, suggestions to other projects, and additional comments. These interviews found that even across different SFS project categories, there are strong common lessons and suggestions that can be applied to other existing or new projects, such as channeling passion into starting projects despite the obstacles faced, and building support networks. These results will help other SFS projects in their quest to address the environmental, social, and economic challenges faced by the parts of the food system: production, processing, access, distribution, consumption, and waste management.

scholarly journals Proposal of a Bioregional Strategic Framework for a Sustainable Food System in Sicily

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1546
Author(s):  
Paolo Guarnaccia ◽  
Silvia Zingale ◽  
Alessandro Scuderi ◽  
Ezio Gori ◽  
Vincenzo Santiglia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Scenario Planning ◽  
Economic Indicators ◽  
Developmental Approach ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Strategic Framework ◽  
Sustainable Food System

The alignment of food systems with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is generally envisaged to make a positive impact on sustainability. This paper outlines some critical environmental and socio-economic indicators for Sicily in order to compare and explore the outcomes of two juxtaposing key drivers in a scenario planning exercise, where the extremities are Industrial versus Regenerative Agriculture/Agroecology and a Proactive versus Reactive government response. The most rational and less risky scenario becomes the most sensible sustainable development option, around which a 2030 vision is projected for a bioregional sustainable food system for Sicily, which is aligned with the SDGs and related policies. To accomplish the 2030 vision, a holistic education-led developmental approach is outlined with a supporting bioregional strategic framework, whose key milestone deliverables are projected through a backcasting process. This paper therefore highlights the importance of consistency and alignment of a development vision with its strategic framework and ensuing implementation, failing which, the holistic bioregional approach is compromised by activities that are shown to negatively impact environmental and socio-economic indicators. For this reason, all public and private sector development plans and associated resources ought to be aligned with a bioregional strategic plan for a sustainable food system for Sicily.

scholarly journals Steering the Nexus: iZindaba Zokudla and Governing for Sustainability

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naudé Malan
Keyword(s):  
Urban Agriculture ◽  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Food System ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Interactive Process ◽  
Sustainability Governance ◽  
Reflective Essay ◽  
Autocatalytic Networks ◽  
Sustainable Food System

“iZindaba Zokudla” means we talk about the food that we eat. iZindaba Zokudla is a public innovation lab that uses stakeholder-engagement methods to create “opportunities for urban agriculture in a sustainable food system.” iZindaba Zokudla is presented as an extra-institutional means to govern the water, land, energy, and waste nexus. This reflective essay critically describes iZindaba Zokudla and applies this to the design of institutional steering mechanisms to govern the food, water, land, and energy nexus towards sustainability. Governance is an intersubjective and interactive process between the subjects of governance and governance itself. Sustainability, as an interactive process, implies the creation of autocatalytic and symbiotic communities in society that integrates diverse actors and stakeholders, inclusive of scientific and lay actors, and ecosystems. iZindaba Zokudla is a means to govern and create such communities, and this article describes and reflects on how iZindaba Zokudla has created and managed such symbiotic communities or autocatalytic networks in the food system. The article generalises how the activities conducted in iZindaba Zokudla can be used to govern the water, land, energy, and waste nexus for sustainability. The article shows how iZindaba Zokudla has realised a progressive governance through the facilitation of its Farmers' Lab and website; how it has created opportunities for participation; and how it enables critical reflection in society.

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