Abstract

In rural and urban communities across North America, signs that our modern food system is failing our farmers, our environment, our health and our poor are growing painfully apparent. Now that we find ourselves at the brink, an appetite for change has started to develop. Farm-to-university programs are among a new crop of food system alternatives designed to change food and agriculture from the ground-up. Regarded as the planned efforts to connect universities with local farms, farm-to-university is intended to benefit farmers with fair and stable markets while making local sustainable food more accessible to members of university communities. As an initial assessment of the possibilities for farm-to-university at Concordia University, this community food planning study was an attempt to identify stakeholder interests as well as potential barriers and opportunities to development. Using a community food security framework focused on partnership, program and policy development, this thesis sought to connect with relevant and diverse stakeholders from both inside and outside the University. Based on stakeholder interviews, student surveys and an analysis of produce purchasing data, this study found that Concordia University needs new purchasing and supply structures that can effectively link food services and farmers in order to become a reliable market for local sustainable food. Perhaps more importantly, it found that Concordia University needs to see itself as part of the solution and ultimately redefine its current relationship with food to become a force for change. Based on these findings, the study identifies several topics for future research.