Discussion and conclusions

The Healthier Food, Healthier People Project was a worthwhile endeavour for those from around the region who participated, as well as for PHAC Atlantic and Health Canada. The need for the project was articulated in the report, A Review of Public Health Agency of Canada, Atlantic Region, Supports for Action on Food Security, published in March 2006. The report described the support PHAC Atlantic has provided, mostly in direct funding to community-based organizations for time-limited food security projects, over the past five years. Through this work, community and government stakeholders identified food security as a priority public health issue in Atlantic Canada. The report stated that while this funding has certainly contributed to food security efforts in the region, increased Agency support of intersectoral collaboration was recommended.

The Healthier Food, Healthier People Project attempted to address this recommendation by increasing intersectoral collaboration on food security in the region. The project was limited by a three-month time limit, staff and volunteer time, and financial resources. The Healthier Food, Healthier People Project Steering Committee would have preferred to have had more time to work to ensure representation from a more culturally diverse group of participants. Likewise, limited human, time, and financial resources impacted on the ability to offer a completely bilingual event at the Atlantic Food Security Forum.

However, and fortunately, the Healthier Food, Healthier People Project constituted the first time PHAC Atlantic has collaborated with another federal department, Health Canada, to support an Atlantic-wide initiative. It is felt that this collaboration is key to the development of a strategic approach to address food insecurity in Atlantic Canada. Given PHAC's mandate to address the social determinants of health and reduce health inequities, and given Health Canada's and PHAC's common mandate of regional and national emergency preparedness, which certainly involves food security, the project steering committee feels future collaboration on food security in the Atlantic will be important.

The project was successful in bringing together a wide cross section of food security stakeholders, including Family Resource Centres, researchers, organic producers, provincial government policy makers, anti-poverty advocates, and nutritionists. Participants in the Atlantic Food Security Forum saw much value in future Atlantic-wide collaboration on food security, and follow-up is already in the works. Based on participant evaluations, the forum has assisted in building community capacity to address food security in Atlantic Canada, having offered an opportunity for learning, networking, and strategizing. However, the Inventory of Food Security Initiatives in Atlantic Canada and the forum are just a beginning point in developing an Atlantic food security strategy.

A number of conclusions and recommendations can be made from the findings of this two-part project. One overarching conclusion is that the best approach to improving the situation of food insecurity in Atlantic Canada is to address its root causes. This can be done through an analysis of the interconnected systems impacting food security and a redesign of these systems to ensure equitable access to affordable, nutritious, culturally appropriate, sustainably produced food. Stakeholders also recognize the need to continue to support short-term relief strategies and capacity-building strategies. Another broad conclusion is that a large number of partners and groups must be involved to successfully and promptly address the issue of food insecurity. This includes funding bodies, development agencies, Family Resource Centres, anti-poverty and other social justice groups, grassroots organizations, businesses, government at all levels, economic development boards, town councils, universities, health institutions, the media, schools, service clubs, food producers and marketers, and those most directly affected by food insecurity.

The findings of the inventory and forum reinforce the importance of collective efforts to:

• examine government policy at the municipal, provincial, and federal level to see its impacts on food security
• address the root causes of food insecurity such as poverty, for example increasing income assistance, minimum wage rates, and other support programs
• ensuring sufficient and consistent funding to support food-security initiatives
• address the lack of awareness about the prevalence and reality of food insecurity in Atlantic Canada
• strengthen relationships between food producers and consumers and understand the importance of supporting local producers and initiatives
• recognize the particular needs of stakeholders around the region, especially as they relate to culture
• build and maintain networks among those who work on food security issues
• build support across sectors and encourage intersectoral partnerships through collaboration and sharing of resources.

There are specific actions that were recommended to Health Canada and PHAC Atlantic staff throughout the project:

• Health Canada and PHAC Atlantic should continue to work collaboratively on the issue of food insecurity in the region and explore the involvement of other federal government departments such as Environment Canada and Agiculture and Agri-Food Canada.
• PHAC Atlantic and Health Canada should support the development of an Atlantic food security strategy, by facilitating communication among key stakeholders, particularly forum participants, and fostering relationships with those initiatives outlined in the inventory.
• PHAC Atlantic should enhance funding for food security work, supporting community capacity building for using population health approaches to address food security as well as for increasing community involvement in developing healthy public policy on food security.
• Health Canada and PHAC Atlantic should consider funding research proposals, providing infrastructure, and dedicating a staff person to food insecurity.
• PHAC Atlantic and Health Canada staff should consider further developing their own understanding of the differences, uniqueness, and realities of food insecurity issues in communities across the Atlantic.
• In planning future food security or other public events, Health Canada and PHAC Atlantic should endeavour to support environmentally sustainable practices by providing food which is purchased from local producers.
• PHAC Atlantic and Health Canada should expand and update the inventory of food security initiatives.

The PHAC Atlantic and Health Canada staff involved with the Healthier Food, Healthier People Project applaud the innovative and varied work being carried out by stakeholders across the Atlantic region to address the problem of food insecurity. Continued collaboration and partnerships are anticipated and welcomed.

 

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