Building the Durham Region Food System Report Card: Assessing the opportunities and gaps in attaining a sustainable and just regional food system

Using simplified language understandable to a layperson; provide a general, one-paragraph description of the proposed research project to be undertaken by the intern(s) as well as the expected benefit to the partner organization. (100 – 150 words)
To address local food system issues like loss of farmland, people without enough food, or climate change impacts, it is important to see such issues as all related. This project will assess Durham Region food system resources, like local research and policy documents, to find strengths, areas to be addressed, and areas to be studied more. It will develop a more comprehensive picture of the local food system. This, along with the input of people who play various roles in the food system and people whose voices may not often be heard, will help in developing outlines for report cards to show the health of food system components in all of Durham’s municipalities. This project will help Durham’s residents better understand what is going well in the food system and what needs to change. The lead community organization partner will learn how to better help its community and how to advocate for change with other food system actors.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sara Edge

Student:

Jenelle Regnier-Davies

Partner:

The Nourish and Develop Foundation

Discipline:

Environmental sciences

Sector:

Health care and social assistance

University:

Ryerson University