Food Security

A community is “food secure” when everyone obtains a safe, personally acceptable, nutritious diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes self-reliance and justice.

Since 2005, PPH has played a leading role in BC’s food security community through a health promotion initiative called the Community Food Action Initiative (CFAI). PPH now plays a key role in the core public health program in food security.  CFAI is a program within it.

PPH provides provincial coordination and support to Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport-funded food security initiatives and policies that are implemented across BC by regional health authorities.

Our priorities are:

• Engaging stakeholders (see related documents below)
• Access to traditional foods for urban Aboriginal People - A case study
• Food for Thought - a synthesis of current evidence on seven salient issues impacting food security in British Columbia.
• Summary of chapter 1 - Economic well-being and food security
• Summary of chapters 2-5 - Climate change and food security
• Summary of chapter 6 - Built environment and food security
• Summary of chapter 7 - Built environment around schools
• A Seat at the Table: Resource Guide for local governments to promote food secure communities – provides ideas for local government action on how to build food secure communities
• Local Governments – Key Partners in Local Meat Production
• The BC Food Security Gateway is a web portal designed to be a one stop knowledge resource for stakeholders interested in a food secure British Columbia.  It can link you to BC based food security actions supported by the three levels of government, health authorities, community organizations and academia - as well as pertinent information, resources and current events related to food security.
• Building evidence through research, surveillance, monitoring and evaluation (see related documents below)
• Indicators for the Food Security Core Program
• Taking Action on Food Security: Overview of the Community Food Action Initiative evaluation – brief version of the Community Food Action Initiative Evaluation Report
• Community Food Action Initiative Evaluation: 2005-2006 – full report of the Community Food Action Initiative Process Evaluation
• Informing policy (see related documents below)
• Food Action Framework for Public Institutions
• A Review of Policy Options for Increasing Food Security and Income Security in British Columbia (2007)
• Perspectives on Community Based Food Security Projects: Discussion Paper
• Implementing Community Food Action Initiative in British Columbia: Criteria for Success and Role of the Health Sector (2006)
• Supporting community action (see related documents below)
• 2006-07 Year In Review: Brief Annual Report of the Community Food Action Initiative
• 2007-08 Year in Review: Brief Annual Report of the Community Food Action Initiative
• Community Food Assessment Guide – a resource to help communities undertaking a Community Food Assessment
• Community Food System Assessment - A Companion Tool for the Guide
• Community Food Action Initiative E-brief – a monthly electronic information resource for community food security practitioners in British Columbia
• Local Food, Local Meat