Urban Food Systems and Policy : Connecting Research and Practice

Communities and municipalities are bound to play an increasing role in integrating food into planning to improve  socio-economic and environmental outcomes. However, city-region food systems are complex and evolving: they span across sectors, scales and jurisdictions, while being carried out by a diversity of actors with different values, goals and strategies. It is therefore vital to mobilize new approaches, practices and tools to support food planning in the city. This conference invites researchers and professionals to examine food assessment practices and food planning and policy experiences.

Organized by the Institute for Health and Social Policy, the conference will focus on the following questions: How can food assessments and evaluation practices be mobilized for integrated territorial food planning? What shape can urban policies take to advance sustainability and socio-economic outcomes? How can research support food planning at the community and regional level?

Place-based food planning practices will serve as the starting point of this event. The morning panels will look at neighborhood and borough-level initiatives, and assess the experience of Montreal with the cities Toronto and Victoria.  

In the afternoon, a workshop will be held to discuss food assessments and evaluation and raise research questions. The conference will finish by providing examples of tools developed in the research community to support local and regional food planning.

On Tuesday, June 19, participants will be invited to participate to a guided tour of food environments of a neighborhood in transformation, the neighborhood of Parc Extension. Please choose this option via a free online registration. The tour will start at 15:00 outside Parc Metro station. 

Participants

Martin Crépeau, Arrondissement Ville-Marie
Gaelle Janvier, Alternatives
Raphaelle Rinfret-Pilon, CDC Centre Sud 
André-Anne Parent, Université de Montréal
Jamie Baxter, Dalhousie University (vidéo)
Lori Stahlbrand, Toronto Food Policy Council 
Virginie Lavallée-Picard, Ville de Victoria, BC
Ghalia Chahine, Conseil-SAM
Yan Kestens, CHUM
Hugo Martorell et Gaëlle Janvier
Anna-Liisa Aunio, Collège Dawson
Manon Boulianne, U. Laval
Eric Duchemin, AU Lab
Marie-Eve Buist, CDDSA 

REGISTRATION: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/billets-systemes-alimentaires-et-politiques-...
INFORMATION: https://www.mcgill.ca/ihsp/urban-food-systems

This seminar is accredited by a recognized provider for 10.75 hours of continuing legal education