Category Archives: International Lessons

Alternatives and solutions to problems or barriers to sustainable local food systems that have relevance in Ontario.

A conversation with UN Special Rapporteur Olivier De Schutter

Join Canadians across the country for this incredible opportunity to have the UN at your fingertips! Check the list (pdf) for an event near you, or look below for details on the Guelph and Toronto events.

Bringing the UN to Guelph – join Food Secure Canada for a conversation with the Special Rapporteur on the right to food !

When : on March 4th, 2013 from 12pm to 1h30pm EST.
Where : University of Guelph, Hutt Building, Room 234
Hosts : FarmStart / Guelph Sustainable Food Researchers Group
RSVP : sri@farmstart.ca or call Sri Sethuratnum at 519-836-7046 ext. 107

Public Event @ The University of Toronto:
The webinar will also be live-streamed at the University of Toronto. All are welcome to attend.

Claude T. Bissell Building, Room 205, 140 St. George Street.
11:30am – 1:30pm
Includes introductory speaker and informal post-discussion
No RSVP required
Contact Charles Levkoe charles.levkoe@utoronto.ca

By teleconference from Geneva, Olivier De Schutter, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, will present the main results of the report of his mission to Canada and participate in discussion with key Canadian stakeholders such as yourselves. Get a chance to hear more and ask questions on the topics addressed in the preliminary report such as poverty, growing inequity, health, obesity, sustainable agriculture and food systems, and the rights of First Nations, Northern and remote communities to healthy and affordable food. This event is in collaboration with Food Secure Canada.
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Empty words won’t fill hungry stomachs

There is good reason to be sceptical about the new initiatives coming out of Davos targeting smallholder farmers.

 

David Nally and Bhaskar Vira in Al Jazeera English.

How Millions of Farmers are Advancing Agriculture For Themselves

published by Independent Science News
Jonathan Latham (December 3rd, 2012)
http://independentsciencenews.org/un-sustainable-farming/how-millions-of-farmers-are-advancing-agriculture-for-themselves/

Synopsis: A farmer-led revolution in agriculture is underway. Small farmers
around the world are dramatically boosting their yields and productivity by
adopting a growing system called SCI (System of Crop Intensification).

Continue reading

Community Food Project Funding

While the scale of this program is tiny, it’s interesting to see the direction that “local food” funding is taking, south of the border. The USDA / National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECTS COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM was recently announced,  keep reading