Sustainable Consumption for All: Revisiting the Accessibility of Sustainably-Produced Food in Canada During COVID-19

Author

Monika Korzun; Farzaneh Barak

Organization

Food Secure Canada (FSC)

Published

2022

Summary

COVID-19 brought to light issues of food access. To date, there is limited evidence on the impact of the pandemic on sustainable food consumption among those living with a low, or fixed-income as well as Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC). Food Secure Canada (FSC) under took a refresher study of their 2019 report using the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research asks four questions, with a focus on people living with low incomes and for BIPOC communities.

Participants identified the ways in which the pandemic impacted the food system, primarily, increased rates of food insecurity and an increase in food prices. The pandemic brought to light issues of systemic racism, colonialism and injustice that are embedded in the current food system. It also demonstrated the strength of non-profits to navigate, adapt and work together to help ease the dire circumstances that many faced during the onset of the pandemic.

Participants identified various tensions with defining the concept of sustainability and food insecurity. The exclusion of those who produce sustainable food, the extent to which these concepts have been influenced by systems of racism and colonialism, and power imbalances, and cooptation of sustainability language by large corporations were key issues raised in this study. Responses revealed participants’ concerns about the effectiveness and integrity of non-profit and charitable food programs in reducing food insecurity in Canada.

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OCA Funded Research
This research received funding support through the Office of Consumer Affairs' Contributions Program.

Contact information

Source: Consumer Policy Research Database