1. www.policyalternatives.ca research analysis solutions Every Bite Counts: Climate Justice and BC’s Food System Marc Lee Senior Economist Co-Director, Climate Justice Project Presentation to Food For All conference October 2011

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4. Climate Justice and BC’s Food System Adaptation and Self-Reliance - Nourishing local food systems - Delinking from globalized, corporate industrial food Mitigation and Sustainability - Organic and biodynamic food - Reducing food miles Food Democracy and Fairness - Taking hunger off the table - Integrating food, housing and health 4

5. www.policyalternatives.ca Adaptation and Food Self-Reliance Climate impacts and rising transportation costs mean we cannot rely on importing half our food Shift from 50% to 80% self- reliance by 2030 Protect and expand the Agricultural Land Reserve Connect farmers with schools, hospitals, and other institutions Half of production is “lost” at some point. 5

6. www.policyalternatives.ca BC food production 6

7. www.policyalternatives.ca Supporting Farmers and Farmworkers BC has lots of small, family farms, but food chain controlled by large corporations Supply management systems deliver higher prices, matched to local demand Cooperatives can help gain economies of scale Migrants and other farmworkers need better wages and working conditions 7

8. www.policyalternatives.ca Climate impacts of BC’s food production 8

9. www.policyalternatives.ca Food types and GHG emissions (Env’l WG 2011) 9

10. www.policyalternatives.ca Mitigation and Sustainability Phase out fossil fuels on farm and from transportation Mainstream sustainable agriculture practices Shift from chemical fertilizers Integrated farms Organic production still small but growing Shifts in diet away from red meat 10

11. www.policyalternatives.ca Food Democracy and Fairness What is food democracy? “Ensure that all have access to affordable, decent, health- enhancing food” and “decency and social justice in the food system’s wages, working conditions and internal equity” (Tim Lang) Will more localized and sustainable food worsen inequities in access to food? - About 8% of BC households experience food insecurity at some point over a year - Dieticians: low income people cannot afford healthy food - Food banks are the front line 11

12. www.policyalternatives.ca Taking hunger off the table Improving access to food with dignity - Support living wage ($18.81 per hour in Metro Vancouver) and link increases to food prices - Complementary anti-poverty policies include affordable housing, child care and other public services Link food, housing and health policies - Food insecurity –> poor health outcomes - Housing costs less than criminal justice, health care and social services - Investments in social housing should include food programs with a range of options (cafeterias, delivery, community kitchens) 12

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14. www.policyalternatives.ca 14 More on the Climate Justice Project http://www.policyalternatives.ca/projects/ climate-justice-project http://twitter.com/#!/MarcLeeCCPA marc@policyalternatives.ca