Topic announced for lecture at Macphail Homestead

Mark Lapping to present Toward a Prince Edward Island Food Strategy on Oct. 19

Mark Lapping, distinguished professor in the Edmund S. Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine ( USM) will be guest speaker at the second annual George McRobie Lecture at the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead in Orwell, Oct. 19.

The lecture begins at 6: 30 p. m. with a reception and cash bar, followed by the lecture at 7: 30 p. m. The title of Lapping’s talk will be Toward a Prince Edward Island Food Strategy.

This lecture series is named in honour of George McRobie, patron for The Homestead Farm, the new sustainable agriculture entity operating at the homestead.

McRobie has long been one of the world’s leading proponents of sustainable agriculture and appropriate small- scale technology. He was a close friend and colleague of the radical economist E. F. Schumacher, whose landmark book, Small is Possible, made such an impact in the latter part of the 20th century.

Lapping has been a prolific author, writing well over 150 scholarly articles, chapters and monographs, as well as authoring or editing seven books. He has also held important academic leadership posts, including founding dean of the prestigious School of Rural Planning and Development at the University of Guelph. Throughout his career, Lapping has maintained a strong interest in land issues in Prince Edward Island and has published several papers and studies on that topic.

In recent years, Lapping has focused his work on food systems and has authored or co- authored several publications in this field, including the lead article in the most recent issue of the Maine Policy Review that was devoted to food.

He is now the leader of a group at the Muskie School, USM, developing a food plan and strategy for Maine funded by a group of New England foundations.

In his talk at the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead, Lapping will share his experience as head of the Maine Food Strategy. He will discuss what constitutes a food system, why it must be seen holistically, what several jurisdictions are doing to reflect this growing enthusiasm for local foods and, more specifically, the process that Maine is taking to realize the potential that exists for its own food system.

The discussion will lead to a specific conclusion and question: is it time to develop a Prince Edward Island Food Strategy?

There will be a charge of $ 10 for admission to the lecture. Since space is limited at the homestead — the capacity is about 50 people — it is necessary to register in advance by phoning 6512789 or sending an email to macphailhomestead@pei.aibn.com.