GROWING OUR LOCAL FOOD ECONOMIES SUSTAINABLY – CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THE FIRST SASKATCHEWAN FOOD SUMMIT VIKI SONNTAG, PHD MARCH 2, 2011 From the Ground Up

HINT: WE ARE NOT TALKING PB&J SANDWICHES HERE What Makes Local “Local”?

“Going Local” Drivers Health Environment Economy Social Justice Community

Locally Directed Spending Doubles Income 2/18/2008 Workshop on Sustainbly Growing the Local Food Economy $31 – or 24% – is re-spent locally for a total impact of $131. $79 – or 44% – is re-spent locally for a total impact of $179. $25 – or 20% – is re-spent locally for a total impact of $125. $52 – or 34% – is re-spent locally for a total impact of $152. $62 – or 38% – is re-spent locally for a total impact of $162.

Healthy Dollar Flows Are associated with a greater number and diversity of local linkages that build on the small- lot variety that is characteristic of sustainable agriculture. LFE Category Pattern of LFE Linkages Institutional Food Service Weakly linked – indirect linkages only. Distributors Weakly linked – small number of weak linkages. Manufacturers and Processors Range of weak to strong linkages. Groceries and Home Delivery Many weak, mainly buy- sell linkages. Farmers and Fisher Folk Strong linkages involving additional resource exchanges. Restaurants and Food Service High multipliers; Many and strong linkages.

A Web of Relationships Rooted in Place

OR: WHY WE ARE STILL EATING PB&J SANDWICHES? System Dynamics

Path Dependence and Transitions System Optimization System Innovation ChangeCosts

Fence: Need to develop “volume” local markets for mid- sized farms Trap: Dependence on low-cost commodity foods for school lunches long-term short-term costs benefits Fences are short-term costs that prevent the realization of long-term benefits. Traps are short-term benefits that come at the expense of long-term costs.

Distribution: Scaling Up versus Spreading Out

Jobs: Living Wages vs Meaningful Work

Health: Who Pays vs Who Benefits

NOT YOUR OLD PB&J SANDWICH Real Possibilities

Hopworks Urban Brewery Portland, Oregon First Eco-Brew Pub Photo Credits: Alicia Carrier, 350.org, and mdog under Creative Commons licenses

Food Cart Pods Portland, OR Photo Credits: Robyn Lee and Grant under Creative Commons licenses

Rhizomes! Thank You!