Food Policy

The Food System :: Just and Sustainable :: Sustainability

Understanding Food Policies and their relationship to Sustainability

What are food policies?

Food policies are decisions that affect how food is produced, processed, distributed, and purchased or recycled. Food policies are involved in many aspects of city life. These include decisions relating to:

• Urban Agriculture (community gardens, rooftop gardens)
• Farmers Markets
• The location of grocery stores
• The availability of free and low-cost meals
• Community kitchens
• Composting food waste
• Institutional food purchasing decisions

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How do food policies contribute to sustainability?

Food policies help to encourage sustainability in a variety of ways. Among other things, they encourage environmental sustainability by increasing green spaces and by reducing the amount of food packaging. They foster social sustainability via community kitchens and farmers markets. And they contribute to the economy by helping local food producers, processors, distributors and retailers.

Environmental sustainability

• Increasing green spaces and protecting biodiversity
• Reducing air pollution by encouraging grocery stores or farmers markets within walking or cycling distance of residents
• Reducing the amount of food packaging and food waste destined for the landfill

Social sustainability

• Enhancing social networks and community-building through participation in community, gardens, community kitchens and farmers markets
• Celebrating cultural and demographic diversity
• Improving access to nutritious and affordable food

Economic sustainability

• Supporting local food producers
• Supporting the local food economy by buying locally produced food
• Supporting small-scale food processors, distributors and retailers

Vancouver’s approach to food policy

Vancouver’s food policy mandate is supported by the Vancouver Food Policy Council, the Vancouver Food Policy Coordinator and the Food Systems Planner. Together, the food policy team facilitate a range of policy and program initiatives.

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