COVID-19 has exposed gaps and weaknesses in our food systems

In just a few short months, COVID-19 has impacted daily life in profound ways, throwing the systems and institutions that we take for granted into crisis. The pandemic shines a particularly bright light on our food system. The complexity of food growing, handling, processing, delivery, preparation and disposal has become obvious and the safe, fair working conditions of workers throughout the food system is a significant concern.

Sustainable food system advocates and researchers, like those associated with the Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, have been saying for a long time that we need to pay more attention to the adaptability and sustainability of our food systems. Our community-based research shows that across Canada and around the world, we have the ability to build sustainable food systems that are economically viable, environmentally regenerative, and socially just.

In response to COVID-19, countless remarkable NGOs and local food-justice groups are adapting their programs to deliver emergency food aid to the most vulnerable people in their communities.

For example, sustainable food system advocates with the Community Growing Network have proposed community garden safety procedures and penned an open letter to the Ontario government demanding that community gardens — an important source of fresh, healthy food for many communities — be recognized as essential.

Food Secure Canada is advocating for robust food policies that will make food systems better post-COVID-19. Across the country, Open Food Network Canada, an online open-source food market platform, is helping food growers, harvesters, processors, and distributors adapt to the crisis and create direct links with eaters.

While it’s undeniable that we need a global food system for commodities like Canadian wheat or imports like coffee, tea, and citrus fruits, there are many things we can grow and process closer to home to protect us against the impact of pandemics and other shocks.

Our research into the food system in the Greater Golden Horseshoe found that food that is grown closer to home often leaves the region while comparable foods are imported. When we take a step back to consider what a more local, resilient food system could look like — especially in our current context when the movement of goods between regions or nations is difficult — that kind of aggregation and redistribution of food starts to look less effective.

Thankfully, we already know that there are alternatives to how we get food to our tables. Researchers in B.C. have been modelling ways that their local food system can be more self-reliant. Their findings indicate the potential to substantially increase food selfsufficiency levels, even with a growing population in the area.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the shocks it has sent through our food system demonstrate that we need more resilient and equitable food systems. While we must ensure people have the food they need right now, we must also think about the future we want as we emerge from this crisis. The UNESCO Chair on Food, Biodiversity and Sustainability Studies is currently working with researchers and community partners on policy recommendations that address the challenges that have been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have the chance to learn and act on valuable lessons for our collective future so we can create a new, more sustainable path to recovery.