Propagating the food movement: A uniquely decentralized and mighty movement

By Charles Levkoe,  Briarpatch magazine - September 1, 2011 

Over the past decade, food-related initiatives have proliferated in response to growing concerns about the corporate, industrial food system. These initiatives address issues ranging from more equitable food access and healthy food consumption to agro-ecological production and citizen engagement. Although they have diverse goals, their combined activities challenge the existing food system while seeking to build economically viable and environmentally sustainable alternatives. The individuals and organizations that constitute this movement are becoming increasingly organized, but, unlike traditional social movements, there is not one set of common objectives nor a single, linear path toward them.

Regional networks have emerged in almost every province and territory over the last decade with an explicit mandate to transform the food system by supporting the work of local initiatives and fostering collaboration. The British Columbia Food Systems Network, Food Matters Manitoba, Sustain Ontario, the Nova Scotia Food Security Network and Yukon Food are just a few examples of province- and territory-wide, cross-sectoral alliances that act as intermediaries between initiatives, creating spaces for dialogue and interaction among actors.