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Food Security Reports & Research

Food Matters Manitoba recently completed a community food assessment of St Vital with funding from the Winnipeg Foundation and the Province of Manitoba and with support from the Canadian CED Network.
The findings uncovered many of the negative issues surrounding food in St Vital, helping to put the issues of accessing healthy local food in the suburbs in a new light. Approximately 70% of St Vital residents are overweight or obese. Only 11% live within a walkable distance of a grocery store. Meanwhile, few people are aware of the many food-related programs happening in St Vital.
While the report dug into community concerns, it also discovered many community food resources already in place, like community gardens, nutrition and cooking classes, food banks, and transportation for seniors to the grocery store.
Residents and community organizations have already started to think of ways to create strategies to make healthy foods accessible for everyone.
For more information and the full version of the report, please visit www.foodinstvital.ca.

This food assessment was conducted to examine food security related issues and resources in the North End of Winnipeg. The key goal of this food assessment was to develop a community profile of the local food system in the North End which will provide a base for capacity building for food related security initiatives. The assessment includes an inventory of food resources in the community; identifies current gaps and opportunities with respect to food security in the community; documents current food knowledge and skills within the community and identify what additional knowledge and skills are desired or needed;identifies ways to engage community members, service agencies, government and local businesses to actively participate in local food system initiatives and is a base on which to build the food planning process and to develop specific food security initiatives.

Manitoba Provincial Food Policy Report: Manitoba’s Local Food System; Growing Healthy Communities

This report, a first for food security in Manitoba, outlines 37 opportunities for action by the Province of Manitoba. The report was developed by the Manitoba Food Charter Inc. (FMM) in consultation with over 50 food systems stakeholders and provincial staff. This report is the first in Manitoba to comprehensively address food security. It highlights numerous opportunities for action by the Province, as well as potential partnerships with food security stakeholders.

Provincial Approaches to Food Security (2011): A Scan of Food Security Related Policies in Canada

In recent years, provincial and territorial governments across Canada have begun to develop programs and policies to address the issue of food security. This report builds on the 2009 edition, which was a first for food security in Canada, scans policies, programs, and government reports from provincial and territorial governments across the country. The report is a valuable guide for anyone interested in comparing provincial food policies across the country, developing policy with an interest in precedents from other jurisdictions, or promoting policy change. To see the 2009 edition, click here.

Planning for food security provides tools for municipal governments to create jobs, reduce landfill costs and taxes, raise citizens quality of life of, develop healthy communities and provide opportunities for recreation and physical exercise, while increasing the economic prosperity and environmental sustainability of our food system. The city of Winnipeg is in a prime position to address the issue of food security. The Manitoba Food Charter (FMM) Municipal report highlights numerous opportunities for action.

In March 2009, northern grocers joined community food security organizations, the Manitoba Food Charter and Bayline Regional Roundtable in Thompson and The Pas to identify ways to increase access to affordable, healthy foods in northern Manitoba. This project builds on the 2003 Northern Food Prices Report and works towards the overall goal of decreasing retail costs and increasing the availability of affordable and healthy foods in northern Manitoban communities. Grocers are new partners in recent community and government efforts to increase northern food security. This report outlines the process and findings of the 2009 Northern Grocers’ Forums, as well as several opportunities for action.