Food Security Panel + Workshop
Note: From January until June 2015, our events were promoted under “Values in Perspective”. We have since changed our name to IdeasXChange.
March 3, 2015: Approximately 30 participants from UBC and the community joined four insightful panelists for a workshop on food security hosted by IdeasXChange.
Panelists at IdeasXChange’s Food Security Workshop
What is Food Security?
As the number of hungry and under-nourished grow around the world, concepts of food security have changed and evolved.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, “food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food.”
Panel Discussion: Local and international perspectives on access to proper nutrition
Four panelists discussed ways in which food security can be guaranteed – from a nutritional, local, international and policy perspective.
They each brought their experience on actions society and individuals can make to improve access to nutritious, sustainable and cultural appropriate foodstuffs.
The panelists included:
Karly Pinch: Community organization and Coordinator for the Vancouver Urban Farming Society. Pinch touched on supporting local food systems
Karen Giesbrecht: Registered dietitian with Planted, a community food network. Giesbrecht spoke on the securing access to nutritious foodstuffs, and vulnerable populations.
Stephanie Lim: Coordinator at the Renfrew Collingwood Food Security Institute. Lim noted the importance of local and community food initiatives and the role that policy plays.
Jill Guerra: MA, interdisciplinary background. Guerra shared with the audience her research on the intersection of sustainable agriculture initiatives, food security & poverty reduction, with a focus in Latin America.
After a short question and answer period, participants split into different breakout sessions and got a chance to interact closely with other attendees and panelists.