The Ideas Lab for Food Systems Transformation was a dynamic project designed to foster collaboration among multi-sectoral food champions and advocates across Northern BC.

The project was developed in response to findings from the Strengthening Food Systems and Dignified Food Access in Northern BC project, which highlighted northern communities’ desire for improved coordination, networking, and collaboration among food systems actors to better leverage resources and avoid duplication of efforts.

The goal of the Ideas Lab was to strengthen regional food security through innovative, community-driven solutions that make local food systems more equitable, resilient, and adaptive.

The project spanned 17 months, from September 2024 to January 2026, and involved a combination of facilitated virtual meetings and in-person gatherings. These sessions guided participants through an equity-centred design process for collaborative project development, delivered training to support capacity building, and created opportunities for networking, peer learning, and knowledge exchange.

A total of 39 food systems actors participated in the Ideas Lab, and $300,000 in seed funding was administered to support 13 collaborative, equity-driven initiatives that emerged through the design process, which is described in detail within this report.