When looking at issues in Canadian politics, the topic of food security is a significant matter that needs to be addressed to determine if Canada is in need of a national food policy. What is meant by a national food policy is strategy that works towards the ensuring of a stable environment and economy in relation to Canada’s food system along with the improving of citizen’s health. Based on studies such as Resetting the Table and Rural Canada Matters, it can be said that Canada is both ready and in need of a national food policy. Looking at the main issues faced in regards to food security in Canada such as the health of Canadians and the environment, we are given insight into why we need a national food policy. Based on the issues relating …show more content…
to food insecurity and what organizations and political parties have already done in terms of food insecurity, it can be stated that Canada does indeed need a national food policy. It can be determined that Canada is ready for a national food policy, this can be seen through the article Resetting the Table: a People’s Food Policy for Canada. That serves purpose of explaining the reasons why Canada is in desperate need of a national food policy. Reasons that are cited within the article for Canada needing a national food strategy is that so many Canadians, specifically those in low incomes families do not have food security and their health is being negatively impacted by it. Other reasons referenced by the article are that an abundance of local farmers and fishers are losing business and there is a strain being placed on our environment as a result of our food system. This article then proposes what is called The People’s Food Policy, which is a policy developed by organizations and individuals working towards the building of a healthy and ecologically sustainable food system for Canada. The People’s Food Policy is interested in ensuring that all Canadians have access to healthy, locally grown, produced and processed food. This however, would “...require the scaling up of initiatives that build relationships between eaters and producers, strengthening health, economies and communities in the process” (Resetting the Table 2012). Also, by looking at the Liberal’s plan for a national food policy titled Rural Canada Matters, it can be said that can is in need of a national food strategy. Within this plan several principles that are essential for Canada’s food policy have been outlined. Ensuring that all Canadians have that is both affordable and healthy is a significant factor of their food strategy. Along with the building of long term and sustainable farm incomes to support locally grown and produced foods for Canadians. Another important issue emphasized in their proposed food policy is the improvement of the relationship between our food systems by using sustainable farming practices in order to maintain our environment. Currently, the main issues that are being faced by Canadians when it comes to food insecurity are the effects that it has on our health, environment and the health care system.
Food insecurity is an issue specifically when it comes to those with a lower household income, there is a correlation between amount of household income one has and the likelihood of facing food insecurity. When an individual is in poverty with a low household income, they are at a greater risk of they are of dealing with food insecurity. This will then affect the amount of food intake the family will have which can result in people lacking the right nutrients because they do not have access to safe and affordable food. Based on this it can be assumed that poverty and food insecurity are directly correlated and both lead to poor health, studies have shown that individuals who are faced with food insecurity report both poorer mental and physical health. It is because of the impact that food insecurity has on many Canadian’s health that it also “...takes a significant toll on the healthcare system with costs considerably greater for food insecure households” (Food Insecurity). How Canada’s food system impacts the environment is another reason Canada is ready for a national food policy, this is due to the greenhouse gas emissions that are coming from the long distance transportation of our imported foods. It is because of the strain that is being placed on our environment that Canada needs a food …show more content…
strategy. Based on the reasons provided, Canada is in desperate need of a national food policy because of the effects that food insecurity is having on the environment and the physical and mental health of Canadian citizens. Through the People’s Food Policy, Canadians have responded to the unavailability of locally grown and processed by advocating for the implementation of a national food strategy, in attempt to ensure that food being eaten by Canadians is grown locally.
This can then be related to one of the main issues about food insecurity in Canada, with the creation of a food strategy it could help with the effects of this issue. The issue here is the emissions of greenhouse gases that are a result of long distance travel of our exported and imported foods. This issue could potentially be resolved through the creation of a national food policy that works towards making sure more of our food here in Canada is locally grown and processed; this will cause a positive impact on both our environment and economy. Canada’s “...focus on exportation also means we are progressively importing more, including many things that we can grow, process and store in Canada. All this means further losses for our economies and for our communities” (Resetting the Table). By implementing a national policy on food, Canada’s economy would be greatly impacted because less local farmers and fishers will be put of business and more revenue will be going towards these Canadian business and locally grown
food. Through the analysis of articles and the main issues that Canadians are dealing with in terms of food security, it can be stated that Canada is ready for a national food policy. The articles Resetting the Table: a People’s Food Policy for Canada and Rural Canada Matters provide several reasons and arguments that attempt to prove that Canada is ready for a national food policy. By looking at the effects that food insecurity has on Canada’s economy, environment and citizen’s health, evidence is provided as to why a nation food policy is needed within Canada. Based on the evidence provided in the articles Resetting the Table and Rural Canadian Matters, it can be said that Canada is in need of a national food policy to improve the issues associated with food security.
The article goes over the affects this deal has on some local Canadian industries. For example, the author explained that this deal will possibly increase the amount of imported foreign car parts and maybe even dairy products, which could mean a better selection as well as lower prices for consumers but also hurt some workers who operate locally in these businesses. Currently the absence of foreign products in the Canadian dairy market means that there is less selection for a higher price, but this also means that local farming communities can have stable incomes and can be
In “Called Home”, the first chapter of the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year in Food Life, Barbara Kingsolver presents her concerns about America's lack of food knowledge, sustainable practices, and food culture. Kingsolver introduces her argument for the benefits of adopting a local food culture by using statistics, witty anecdotal evidence, and logic to appeal to a wide casual reading audience. Her friendly tone and trenchant criticism of America's current food practices combine to deliver a convincing argument that a food culture would improve conditions concerning health and sustainability. I agree with Kingsolver that knowing the origin of food is an important and healthy benefit of developing a true food culture, but it is impractical to maintain that everyone is able to buy more expensive food. Kingsolver presents a compelling argument for developing a food culture, however this lifestyle change may not be practical or even possible for a poverty-level citizen. The following essay will summarize and respond to Kingsolver’s argument to demonstrate how “Called Home” is a model for novice social scientists.
Humans are damaging the planet to live comfortably, we must change the way food is distributed worldwide, support local farmers and switch to a healthier diet in order to stop global warming. The current global has been getting better for us humans over the years, from eating bread and eggs 3 times a day in the XV century, now we can eat better than the kings of those times, however the much of the food in not healthy and the global food system still fails in getting food to every individual in the planet and in addition it contributes to the destruction of our world. Ms. Anna Lappe explains how the food system contributes to around 1/3 of the global warming issue in her essay “The Climate Crisis at the End of Our Fork”, while a group of Plos one explains the issues about the export and import of food growth over the last 50 years in the
The book The No-Nonsense Guide to World Food, by Wayne Roberts introduces us to the concept of “food system”, which has been neglected by many people in today’s fast-changing and fast-developing global food scene. Roberts points out that rather than food system, more people tend to recognize food as a problem or an opportunity. And he believes that instead of considering food as a “problem”, we should think first and foremost about food as an “opportunity”.
Nestle, Marion. Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2002.
As labeled on the estimated daily calorie needs for adults chart, I am an active man under the group age of 19-30 years old. As per mentioned on the chart I need 3000 calories per day to remain healthy. After looking at Canada’s food guide, I became aware about the recommended number of food guide servings per day for various age groups.
Poverty is a serious issue in Canada needs to be addressed promptly. Poverty is not simply about the lack of money an individual has; it is much more than that. The World Bank Organization defines poverty by stating that, “Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not having access to school and not knowing how to read. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living one day at a time”. In Canada, 14.9 percent of Canada’s population has low income as Statistics Canada reports, which is roughly about two million of Canadians in poverty or on the verge of poverty. In addition, according to an UNICEF survey, 13.3 percent of Canadian children live in poverty. If the government had started to provide efficient support to help decrease the rates of poverty, this would not have been such a significant issue in Canada. Even though the issue of poverty has always been affecting countries regardless of the efforts being made to fight against it, the government of Canada still needs to take charge and try to bring the percentage of poverty down to ensure that Canada is a suitable place to live. Therefore, due to the lack of support and social assistance from the government, poverty has drastically increased in Canada.
Poverty is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as a lack of something or when the quality of something is extremely low. All over the world, poverty is present. Charles Darwin once said in the Voyage of the Beagle: “if the misery of our poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions” (Charles). First Nations across Canada are being put into a position of poverty and the Canadian Government are to blame. The Canadian government is only worsening the problem, rather than helping our First Peoples. The First Nations are disconnecting them from their traditional way of living, not funding their given lifestyle and not raising any awareness of the issue of Aboriginal poverty. But why should Canadian’s help the Aboriginals?
The Canadian Food Guide1 is an important health promotion tool, as long as it is adapted to the sociocultural context in which it is used. This is crucial for the First Nations, which are struggling with health problems related to nutrition and whose traditional eating habits must be taken into account2. Drawing deeply into their values and culture, Atikamekw health services have developed their own Food Guide (AFG) in 1998. For ten years, it was the main tool used by health workers to teach basic principles of healthy eating.
The United States Department of Agriculture defines food unsecurity as the availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food, or the ability to acquire such food, is limited or uncertain for a household. Food insecurity also does not always mean that the household has nothing to eat. More simply stated it is the struggle to provide nutritional food for ones family and/or self. The people that suffer from food insecurity are not all living below the poverty line. In 2012 49.0 million people were considered food insecure in the United States of those 46.5 million were in poverty (Hunger & Poverty Statistics, 2012). For some individual’s food insecurity is only a temporary situation for others it maybe for extended period. Food insecurity due temporary situation such as unemployment, divorce, major medical or illness can be become more long term. The vast majority of these are families with children.
In Canada, 1 in 7 people suffer from poverty, this is translated to about 4.8 million people (Just the Facts, 2015). When living in poverty, people are faced with hardships that make it challenging for them to live a proper, healthy life. Living in poverty does correlate with the fact that these families will suffer from a low income. Families that have a low income are more likely to suffer from poor physical and mental health because they are unable to support themselves when it comes to nutrition and cleanly living conditions. Fresh, nutritious, organic foods typically cost much more than freezer and fast foods, charities that help these families do not provide enough fresh foods to maintain a healthy diet, unsanitary living conditions
In the United States, Food is one of the basic needs of life.We tend to spend tons of money every year to buy food. Consuming food reflects America’s culture in the United States. In America, Fast food is a way to enjoy delicious food made with sugar, fat and salt. It’s impossible to back away from eating good tasting food. Unfortunately, this is leading to major destruction. In the human life, food procurement, preparation, and consumption have devoted to an art form.Spite the terms of “America has a food problem,” it shows that our nation is unable to produce and supply safe, nutritious food in a way where it sustains our global population. Health Issues are a result of over consumption, which lead to portion sizes, and food production.
Through the manufacturing and industrialization of foods many foods are made into frozen meals which are a lot easier to prepare. Pre-packaged frozen food that interviewee would eat she thought was semi healthy because it included a vegetable and meat or pasta. The price of the frozen food is something that she mentioned as well, these are a lot cheaper than buying fresh fruits and vegetables. The main ingredients that she found she used seemed to be a lot less healthy than what her mother would make her family for dinner. A lot of the main ingredients in meals prepared by her are pre-cooked or frozen foods such as vegetables and fruits which seem to lose their nutritional value (Scrinis, 2008). With living in a farming community, she tries to eat vegetables and fruits that are grown locally which helps to add some nutritional content to her food. One thing that the interviewee talked about during the interview was about the amount of packaging that is used today to help protect food to last longer on grocery store shelves. With grocery stores being so accessible and convenient it pushes a lot of people away from unpackaged and local foods. Interviewee believes that with grocery stores being so convenient and needing to provide food for multiple people the quality has decreased drastically. With having so much low quality food that is easily accessible it is pushing people’s health down which can be visibly seen according to the
As public attention focuses on the impact of policy changes on the climate, we may overlook an important contributor to the climate crisis: our food systems and the daily food choices we make. It may sound hyperbolic that our roast beef sandwich is contributing to environmental degradation of the planet. But mounting evidence of the impact requires our attention and action as global citizens. And each of us can do something about it, today, by taking what we eat as seriously
It used to be that fine dining establishments featured imported ingredients on the menu. These days, many chefs in high quality restaurants take pride in featuring locally grown, seasonal items. Even some large chain grocery stores now offer meat and produce from local farms. While most Americans probably would not feel the need to be as close to their meat as Makenna Goodman describes in “Ever Wonder if You Could Kill What You Eat? We Did the Other Night”, there is growing support for Goodman’s ideas that being closer to the food results in better food quality (246). Many Americans seem to concur, as they are now willing to pay more for locally grown and organically raised food. Having seen countless local farms plowed under to become housing developments or shopping malls, and having dealt with several epidemics of tainted food, Americans are more conscious of the ‘support your local farmer’ movement. If this new ‘food fashion’ continues to grow in popularity, it will help strengthen local farms that in past years have suffered at the expense of large commercial farming enterprises. According to Michael Pollan federal policy has promoted industrial agriculture, or agribusiness, since the Nixon era in the belief that keeping food costs low by obtaining maximum production of commodity crops (corn, soybeans, wheat, and rice) was in the best interest of the national political agenda (186). In “Farmer in Chief”, Pollan asks President Obama to change federal policy and instead promote local farming, asserting that how Americans grow, process, and eat food impacts the health care crisis, energy independence, and climate change (187). Goodman, Pollan, and others agree that more local, small-scale, farming will be better for th...