With a friendly apology to any attendees who mistakenly took veggie sausages at the buffet, Eleanor listed powerful steps we can take to improve food systems, including eating less meat. Additionally, we can buy more locally grown foods, minimize food waste, and in some cases pay more for food that is produced ecologically. Eleanor outlined some of the exciting conversations occurring in Canada and globally, as societies consider National Food Policies (NFPs) that take into account not only the business of agriculture but environmental, health and social objectives. She listed three reasons NFPs are difficult for governments, which need to (a) break down silos and work across ministries; (b) juggle radically-competing priorities; and (c) struggle with the complex problem of poverty that is at the root of food insecurity. Eleanor outlined optimistic trends that are improving food-system access, health, and sustainability — including a shift in food banks away from being traditional charities and toward fostering co-operative self-help; and rising consumer awareness to support local farmers, eat food with fewer chemicals and pesticides, waste less food, and think widely about these issues – the Canadian government is doing in its quest to develop a National Food Policy. References and resources at [email protected].
