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The Toronto Food Strategy: Integrating Food into Local Government. Barbara Emanuel, Manager Toronto Food Strategy Toronto Public Health April 17, 2013. Toronto Food Strategy. Spearheaded by Toronto Public Health to: Promote a healthy & sustainable food system
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The Toronto Food Strategy: Integrating Food into Local Government Barbara Emanuel, ManagerToronto Food Strategy Toronto Public Health April 17, 2013
Toronto Food Strategy • Spearheaded by Toronto Public Health to: • Promote a healthy & sustainable food system • Identify collaborative actions that the City can take
But Common Barriers across Cities FOOD (& Gov’t) in Silos ECONOMICS WASTE AGRICULTURE FOOD SAFETY NUTRITION
What Bureaucracies Can Be Good At Regulations Good Ideas
Toronto Food Strategy Approach • Action oriented • Top down & bottom up • Prioritizing networks & partnerships • Leveraging resources • Research & evaluation
Understanding layers of neighbourhood disadvantages • Broadening discussion on food security among City &community stakeholders Lack of Healthy Food Sources Low Density of Community Food Programs/ Food Banks High Density of “Fast Food” Inadequate access to public transit Low Household Income
Modified Retail Food Environment Index 1km aerial radius(doesn’t reflect on the ground experience) 1km radius - street network “Healthier food retail” All food retail X 100 Source: Modified Retail Food Environment Index
Mapping highlights legacies of not integrating food access into City building over time
Examples of apt tower communities in GermanySource: ERA Architects (2010). Tower Neighbourhood Renewal in the Greater Golden Horseshoe
Multiple Goals: • Making healthy foodmore accessible • Evaluating mobile model • Engaging community • Building links w other City depts to create moreenabling regulations • Exploring social enterprise opportunities
Locally Grown World Crops MANY OF THESE VEGGIES CAN BE GROWN HERE
Food Skills & Employability Training • Integrating food safety, nutrition & employment training skills
Conducting on-site food store surveys & owner interviews • Working with Ec Dev, retailers, community & other jurisdictions to identify what might work in Toronto
Lessons Learned So Far • Build partnerships focused on action, even small projects that allow City staff & NGO partners to see food connections can create many benefits • Be opportunistic, find where momentum is • Learning to communicate our message effectively to diverse audiences is critical
Lessons Learned So Far • Local gov’ts can play strong role in food system renewal, but need to embrace both top-down & bottom-up approaches • Working w community, local gov’t can often pilot innovative food solutions “on the cheap” by leveraging diverse resources
Barbara Emanuel, Manager Toronto Food Strategy Toronto Public Health 416-392-7464 bemanuel@toronto.ca