Examples of food[in] security drivers in Northern Canada

• Author / Creator

  Rengifo, Natalia

• The communities of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut are vulnerable to experience high food [in] security levels when both biophysical and anthropogenic aspects overlap, affecting the access, availability and quality of traditional and market-based food. This research aimed to identify information and examples of food [in] security drivers in the territories of Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, using a sample of grey literature and supplementary scientific literature sources.

  The first section summarized a selection of publicly available data of Northern Canada, providing an overview of key socio-economic variables. Based on a food security framework defined by three components: food availability, food access, and food quality, information and examples of aspects influencing the availability and access to country food and market-based food were presented in the second part of the findings. Examples of food quality indicators discussed include research indicating the presence of contaminants in traditional food. The final section is a snapshot of locally produced food and how it has been explored as a potential strategy to enhance sovereignty in isolated northern communities.

  Climate change is affecting the access and availability to traditional foods; however, northern communities have had the ability to adapt and develop skills and practices to survive the challenging conditions in their territories. There are examples that demonstrate that human disturbances caused by resource development are severely affecting ecosystems and declining traditional species such as caribou (Rangifer tarandus). Food quality is threatened by the presence of contaminants in local sources of food and declines in the nutritional benefits of market-based foods in comparison to local foods.

  In relation to market-based food, government programs such as Nutrition North Canada (NNC) have sought to subsidize food items with affordable prices, but the high cost of these, indicates that it has not fulfilled its objective. Logistics difficulties related to climate change in the transportation and distribution network affect not only the arrival of food on time, but also the quality of some perishable items like fruits and vegetables. Finally, locally produced food may offer a valuable strategy to enhance food security; however, it requires a large body of research and consistent investments on a long-term basis.

  Food [in] security is a multi-dimensional topic with access, availability and quality dimensions overlapping and interacting continuously. A significant body of literature has explored food security in northern Canada. This document is not a comprehensive analysis of all the issues influencing food [in]security in Northern Canada and the findings of this study do not necessarily reflect the specific reality at a local and regional level, but it could be used as a reference to develop further work.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • food[in] security
  • northern food systems

• Graduation date

  Fall 2019

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-gn50-zd78

• License

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