Food System Planning, Social Inclusion and Participatory Governance

So, where is everyone?

Food systems planning, in Vancouver, has evolved to involve groups of incredibly committed citizens. What is curious and needs examining is that the cultural diversity of Vancouver is absent from the ranks of those involved in food systems planning.

So, where is everyone? Are they not interested?

Food is integral to all cultures. Everyone eats - for pleasure or for sustenance. And almost all cultures, all over the world, grow or raise what they need to eat. And yet, the various cultural communities (including First Nations communities) in Vancouver are not actively engaged with food systems planning.

The case studies/papers assigned for this component of the course included examples from Brazil and Argentina. And one of the speakers who spoke about urban agriculture provided examples from Columbia. Each of these examples has lessons for us and yet I wonder if we might uncover additional stories and examples about sustainable practices/models when we find ways to actively engage with all the residents of Vancouver. It is worth considering that we don't need to visit faraway lands to observe unique examples of food systems planning. There are many residents from those lands creating lives in Vancouver, using the knowledge and experience from their previous country. Imagine if we could integrate their stories and knowledge into our food systems planning. Or imagine transforming food systems planning - not just tweaking it or stretching it to accommodate different world views but transforming it so that we have a new paradigm from which to operate.

Powerful questions are a tool for social change. So, my powerful question for this component of the course is: What would our food system be like if residents from all cultures participated in the planning and implementation of it?