We are seeking feedback on the Greater Sudbury Food System assessment
Summary of Key Recommendations by Theme
Food is an integral part of our lives, shaping not only our health and well-being, but also the resilience of our communities, environment and economy. The quality, diversity and quantity of food we consume are influenced by a variety of factors including culture, education, accessibility, the environment, socioeconomic conditions and media. These factors, in turn, impact how food is produced, distributed, consumed, and disposed of.
To support the development of a vibrant, equitable and sustainable food system, it is important to understand the intricate and interconnected forces that shape our access to food and our relationship with it.
Developed by the Greater Sudbury Food Policy Council, the assessment builds on the foundation of the Greater Sudbury Food Strategy (2017). It revisits the goals of the Food Strategy, examining the successes and challenges throughout the food system eight years later, and offers recommendations for meaningful change across seven core themes.
The assessment aims to inspire action among residents, community groups, organizations, businesses, policymakers and leaders. It also serves as a tool to track progress and identify setbacks over time. Intended as a living document, it will evolve through continued engagement with the community and local partners.
The assessment was made possible through a GSDC grant that funded a two-year contract for a Food Systems Coordinator at the City of Greater Sudbury. The coordinator developed the assessment with support from members and organizational representatives of the GSFPC, as well as staff from the City of Greater Sudbury. It is informed by research and outreach to residents, community groups, organizations and food sector professionals.
1. Food Access
- Advocate for evidence-based solutions to food insecurity, such as policies that improve the incomes of low-income households.
- Advocate for and invest in resources to develop and implement an Emergency Food Plan for Greater Sudbury.
- Establish a dedicated permanent coordinator role to lead an Emergency Food Plan.
2. Food Literacy
- Expand hands-on food literacy in schools through partnerships with community groups, organizations and businesses.
- Establish a dedicated permanent coordinator role to support and expand hands-on food literacy opportunities.
- Increase the variety and frequency of community food literacy workshops on growing, harvesting, processing and cooking.
3. Urban Agriculture
- Develop bylaws and guidelines to encourage urban agriculture in residential and non-residential zones.
- Launch City-led or supported programs and pilot projects to encourage household food production.
- Establish a permanent coordinator role that will support and develop urban agriculture initiatives.
- Develop guidelines and resources for growing food for sale in urban areas.
4. Forest & Freshwater Foods (FFWF)
- Strengthen and expand initiatives that connect community to FFWF and to the land and waters they come from.
- Establish a dedicated permanent coordinator role to increase FFWF learning opportunities across schools and organizations.
- Continue support and action to protect and restore FFWF ecosystems.
- Increase education and outreach on sustainable harvesting practices of FFWF.
- Encourage certified, sustainable harvesting of FFWF for local use (e.g. restaurants, events, value-added products)
5. Agriculture and Food Processing
- Strengthen strategic partnerships among local and regional producers and processors to grow Greater Sudbury’s agribusiness sector.
- Develop resources and support programs for both new and experienced farmers.
- Create and maintain a directory of agricultural job openings and hands-on training opportunities to support students and new workforce entrants.
- Establish a permanent coordinator role that will support collaboration and resource sharing among producers and among processors.
- Expand funding access and implement targeted initiatives to support climate adaptation and mitigation in food production and processing systems.
6. Food Retail, Service & Tourism
- Strengthen local and regional relationships to improve distribution networks, reduce costs and support small-scale producers and processors.
- Develop supply chain coordination and invest in local food infrastructure like processing and storage facilities.
- Increase public access to and awareness of local food outlets, including farmers markets, retail shops, online platforms and CSAs, along with boosting local food sales in grocery and convenience stores.
- Develop local food procurement policies for institutions and events, and support programs to help producers and processors expand market reach.
- Establish a dedicated permanent coordinator role that will support food businesses with resources such as a local entrepreneurial guide, access to commercial kitchens and regulatory guidance.
- Develop funding streams geared towards local food businesses that support local food procurement, art and culture.
7. Food Waste
- Promote food waste diversion programs offered in Greater Sudbury (e.g., Too Good to Go, Flashfood, Second Harvest, Loop).
- Incentivize business participation in food waste diversion.
- Increase low density residential participation in the Green Cart Program.
- Expand organic waste collection to the high density residential and non-residential sectors.
- Invest in a permanent organics processing facility that has the capacity to manage organic waste from all sectors within Greater Sudbury.
Applicable to All Themes
- Establish (a) local food hub(s) or centre(s) to centralize learning, sharing, coordination and distribution of food knowledge and resources.
- Establish (a) dedicated permanent coordinator role(s) to integrate efforts across the food system themes.