Community University Research Alliances (CURAs) that Address Community Food Insecurity and Social Justice across Canada

Presented By: Patty Williams (MSVU) & Doris Gillis (St. FX) on behalf of the CURA team

Canadian Association of Food Studies, Montreal May 28-30, 2010

For Thought… “ In a world marred by obesity alongside malnutrition, climate change alongside fuel and energy crises, water stress alongside more mouths to feed, and social inequalities alongside unprecedented accumulation of wealth, the old rubric of food policy needs re-evaluation. Food policy must be inextricably linked with public health, the environment and social justice to be effective.”

Lang et al. (2009)

Activating Policy Change for Community Food Security???“I do a lot of work on the agriculture side with the US in

Washington. Two weeks ago I was in Philadelphia at a national conference of state legislators where the issue of food sovereignty (not just food security) came up in spades. Even the US now admits that if there was a pandemic and borders had to close they couldn’t feed themselves. In fact, in Canada, people on the trade side tell me that if we had to close our borders, you wouldn’t believe the shock you would get when you’d look at our grocery store shelves. Within two weeks we would have extreme shortages of food supply - yet we call ourselves the ‘’Breadbasket of the World’!”

[key informant interview, August 2009]

Central Aim

To engage a broad range of stakeholders, including those most vulnerable to food insecurity and organizations that serve them, in a strategic research alliance to better understand the determinants of community food security (CFS), and build capacity for improved food security policy

CURA: Activating Policy Change for Community Food SecurityCore partners

NS Food Security Network MSVU’s Participatory Action Research & Training Centre

on Food Security

St. Francis Xavier University NS Nutrition Council NS Dept. of Health Promotion & Protection

42 Co-Applicants & Collaborators

53 Partner Organizations across Canada

Different Ways of KnowingThe CURA will use a ‘ways of knowing” typology

that values three types of knowledge:

Instrumental

Interactive

Critical

The CURA will actively involve citizens in the generation and integration of these types of knowledge through Participatory Action Research and Participatory Leadership processes.

(www.wordle.net)

Why Nova Scotia?Income-related household food insecurity by province

Health Canada, 2007 - CCHS Cycle 2.2, 2004 (Nutrition)

Why Nova Scotia? In Canada, imports of food as a % of net supply

are rising (1964-2002) Fruits (from 67% - 97%) Vegetables (from 20% - 48%) Red Meats (from 4.2% - 24%)

Nova Scotia has a strong agricultural history, with communities that were built around fishing, farming & additional resource-based economies….

It is now estimated that only ~8.4% of the diet in Nova Scotia was produced on Nova Scotian farms

Rich in food resources & roots = challenges & growing opportunities

e.g. Growth of Farmer’s Markets across Nova Scotia, with an estimated 15 markets in 2004 to 32 currently

Early work of NSNC to Participatory Food Security Projects Nova Scotia Food Security Network (NSFSN) formed in 2005 10 yr history of working together Food policy work evolving

(Fullerton & McNeil, 2004; http://www.nsfarmersmarkets.ca/; http://www.nsfafane.ca/programs_and_projects/Food_Miles)

What are the components of, & factors contributing to, CFS in NS?

How can we build capacity for policy change at multiple levels to improve CFS?

What & how can a community university participatory research process contribute to the theory & practice of policy change related to food security?

Research Questions

Outcomes- Research Participatory Community Food Security Assessments (PCFSA)

4-6 Case Study communities in NS

Identify assets & gaps in community food systems

(Asset & GIS mapping)

Experiences accessing & navigating community food systems (Photovoice, Structured & Deliberative Dialogues)

Apply & test existing tools against food system characteristics

Outcomes- Research Policy Mapping & Analysis in Case

Communities

Andree’s theoretical framework

Identify policies and policy gaps impacting CFS locally

Community level deliberative dialogues (DD)

Conceptual map of actors, interests, ideas & institutions involved in policies impacting CFS at different levels in NS

Outcomes- Research Evaluation and Participatory Methods

Examine capacity building for policy change at multiple levels using participatory evaluation framework & tools

Focus on: Key outputs Immediate & intermediate outcomes Ongoing process evaluation

METHODS: Personal interviews, focus groups, media & document review

Outcomes- Education & TrainingStudents’ focus on CFS

CFS Research Interns & Research Assistants (Working Groups)

Theses (undergrad & grad) & Postdoctoral OpportunitiesCurriculum Development (service learning, course based

curriculum/new courses), Online learning projectsResearch internships

Community partnersTraining workshops on community- based research DD processesCFS Handbook

Outcomes- Knowledge Mobilization

Integrated knowledge translationApplication of pre-existing NS developed

tools/resources, e.g. Participatory Food Costing, Thought About Food? Workbook and DVD

Critical reflection & deliberative dialogues on CFS & policyInteractive learning & multimedia use

Directed communications

Knowledge sharing of CURA

Deliberative DialogueAssists in bringing together broad stakeholders to

develop common understanding of research purpose/objectives within tight timelines & guidelines

Emphasizes participatory processes of engagement

Continued use of DD processes may enhance engagement and critical reflection at local, provincial, & national levels

Synthesis reportWilliams, P, Gillis, D, Johnson, C, Reimer, D, Vogel, E. (2010).

The Use of Deliberative Dialogue Processes in the Nova Scotia Community University Research Alliance: Activating Policy Change for Community Food Security

Participatory Leadership Model

Evaluation &

Participatory Methods

Challenges…OpportunitiesDiscursive tension in how FS is understood,

measured, & approached: ‘food access’ vs. ‘food supply’; food

security vs. food sovereignty

Disconnect between contemporary food production & distribution systems in a global economy

Increasing vulnerability of local food consumption to uncertain global forces

Competing approaches to food policy that prevent development of food security for all citizens

OpportunitiesDraw upon other ways of knowing

Use of new learning & communication tools Collect & consider different ways in policy work

Continual reflecting, contributing, learning & sharing NS Food Security Network, other CURA’s, future research, knowledge

base & individuals

Activating and enacting real change at the community level

Inform work of the newly formed NS Food Policy Council

Creating success with the Participatory Action Research and Participatory Leadership models

AcknowledgementsSarah Lake, MSVU Grad student and Dietetic InternStephanie Hughes, Interim CURA CoordinatorJeff Harper, Multimedia Project ManagerChristine Johnson, CURA Co-Director, Susan Roberts,

Ellen Vogel, Barbara Anderson for input on presentation

CURA teamFor more information:

Participatory Action Research and Training Centre on Food Security

www.foodsecurityresearchcentre.caNova Scotia Food Security Network

www.nsfoodsecurity.org