Community Food Systems Development
Reports
These projects aim to
advance community food security, enhance local food sovereignty, and foster collaboration across sectors
to build a healthier and more inclusive food system for all.
PHABC’s division of Community Engagement and Food Systems (CEFS) works alongside many partners to develop and provide resources, reports and systems transformation. Below is a collection of our Community Food Systems Development resources.
Community food systems transformation is a complex topic, and we wanted to make it more digestible through the use of visuals. The icons you see below shows the different processes of community food systems transformation, from growing to composting.
“Community partners have worked to build local solutions that strengthen regional food security and support dignified food access.”
– Dr. Shannon Turner, Public Health Association of BC’s Executive Director.
Community Food Systems Development in BC:
Activating the Food Access Sector
We are deeply grateful to the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction for their commitment to exploring effective solutions to food security challenges in BC.
The “Community Food Systems Development in BC: Activating the Food Access Sector” report explores the diverse ways in which food access organizations in British Columbia (BC) are addressing immediate hunger and building capacity across the food access landscape to foster local food systems transformation.
This project identified that British Columbia’s unique geography, diverse populations, varying climates and different community conditions foster distinct advantages and specific hurdles in developing equitable and dignified food systems.
The intelligence gathered in this report will support program redesign, strengthen systemic responsiveness and ensure that the voices on the front line are heard. Most of effective problem solving is achieved in partnership and in true understanding of the solutions the community has already imagined.
(Re)Defining Dignified Food Access in BC:
What we learned from
community members
We would like express our sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction for its commitment to improving the lives of British Columbians experiencing food insecurity.
This report delves into the concept of dignified food access in British Columbia, exploring how various food access organizations are working to create welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environments. The study highlights the importance of quality food choices, community connections, and advocacy in addressing food insecurity and promoting long-term food self-sufficiency.
This investigation goes to the heart of effective food programming. It brings forward the stories of numerous population groups whose voices must be centered in this work. Throughout this report, we have embedded the voices of community members. We hope we have honored their concerns and highlighted the solutions that work from their perspectives. This work is essential to building more responsive, equitable, and transformative food systems.
Strengthening Food Systems and Dignified Food Access in
Northern British Columbia
Funding for this project was informed from the Resilient North Research Project (funded by BC-SDPR in 2022) which deepened our understanding of the unique food-security challenges northern communities face, especially rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
Access to nutritious, safe, and culturally appropriate food is essential for the well-being and dignity of every individual. Over the past several years, food insecurity in British Columbia has risen, exacerbated by global events like the COVID-19 pandemic, climate emergencies, and the rising cost of living. Consequently, BC food bank visits increased by 57% from 2019 to 2023, a figure that is even higher in rural communities at 101% (Food Banks Canada, 2023). Northern BC in particular faces distinct challenges and barriers to reliable and sustainable food access, driven by its small population, vast geography, and limited infrastructure. As a result, food banks in the region have experienced a disproportionately high demand for services.
Recognizing the need for a northern-specific response to address the inequitable access to food in the region, FBBC and PHABC initiated the Strengthening Food Systems and Dignified Food Access in Northern BC project in 2022. Funded by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, this project aims to explore the opportunities, strengths, barriers, and challenges related to food access in northern BC. This knowledge can inform and support efforts to enhance food system resilience across the region.
