Home  News Category A Food Policy Council for Nova Scotia, 22 Oct 09
|
|
A Food Policy Council for Nova Scotia, 22 Oct 09 |
|
|
|
|
Written by Coordinator
|
|
Thursday, 29 October 2009 |
The Nova Scotia Food Summit 2009 wrapped on Tuesday 20 Oct with a strong mandate to form a Nova Scotia Food Policy Council. A planning group will meet within the next several weeks.
Organizers Linda Best, Alan Stewart and Edith Callaghan stated that the goals of the Summit were accomplished: to bring people together to analyze our food system, to raise awareness of challenges and opportunities, and to plan for an inclusive Food Policy Council that will ensure an adequate supply of healthy food for all Nova Scotians. Food Policy Councils are comprised of citizens and leaders from all food-related sectors who collaborate to make recommendations for policies that will improve health, agricultural, and socio-economic outcomes.
The speakers clarified the real cost of our food choices: Chris Power, CEO of Capital Health, spoke about the individual and societal costs of food-related chronic diseases; Richard Melvin, President of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, described the dramatic decline in farm income and farm numbers and the difficulties faced by young people who want to farm; Dr. Janet Eaton spoke about the global corporate policies that are contributing to those declines; Jen Scott, GPI Atlantic, and Joan Baxter, Journalist and Anthropologist, talked about the devastating effect of declining farm incomes not only on rural regions but also on the whole economy; and Dr. Ralph Martin, Professor, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, explained the global threats to local food supply.
Each of the 42 speakers made it clear that everyone can have a positive influence on the food system. Lori Stahlbrand, Founder of Local Food Plus, explained the significant impact that eco-labelling has on consumer choice; Ray Ivany, President of Acadia University, said that education is key to changing perspectives; Dr. Bruce Roberts, KELCO Consulting, described the significant positive impact of direct marketing on Nova Scotian agriculture; and Pete Luckett, Pete’s Frootique, said that adaptation, education, quality and marketing are keys elements for agricultural success.
At the Summit there was an evident willingness to build bridges between all sectors. A Food Policy Council will bring together citizens, non-governmental agencies, educational institutions, businesses, all levels of government and other involved parties to determine effective strategies to insure healthy, economically and environmentally sound, sustainable and secure food for all Nova Scotians.
Looking forward from the Summit, participants could envision healthy fields, farms, food, people and communities now and in the future. Choosing to educate ourselves and others about local and global issues and crafting policies to provide solutions will make that vision real.
For further information please contact Linda Best at (902) 542-3442, cell (902) 670-3660, or by
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
. |
|
