All human beings have a right to nutritious food, clean water, fresh air and shelter. This is basic survival. Many of us took this for granted until the global pandemic disrupted our globalized world. It seemed almost overnight that we were dealing with massive layoffs, closing of businesses and schools, self-isolating at home, scrambling to return from travels to foreign destinations, keeping our social distance and washing our hands regularly. Our world changed radically.
The stockpiling of food, cleansers and toilet paper was at first laughable to me but in time I realized that this is a human reaction to a real threat to survivor. It also makes me rethink our current industrialized food business model.
We need systemic overhauls. What is required is a shift to a greater ecological approach to agriculture and fisheries to ensure the lowest impact on the natural environment. Does this sound more like traditional farming and fishing practices? Yes, it is time to once more work with nature.
This shift needs to be part of this Island’s and Canada’s transition phase away from carbon reliance to a low-carbon one. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) has become a strong proponent of agroecology because of well-documented evidence that recognizes this as a more productive and resilient practice than our current industrial model.
This eco-friendly practice allows the producers to manage their businesses rather than being regulated by big corporations. Yet, it could not happen without the guarantee of fair and stable incomes for these producers.
In Canada, non-profit organizations such as the Council of Canadians, the Green New Deal, Canada's National Farmers Union are also promoting agroecology. This necessary transition is about placing people before profits, a huge shift from globalized capitalism.
I trust that this systemic overhaul of our food production and its related businesses and manufacturers on the Island will ensure greater food security in the future. I would like to suggest some essential changes:
- Islanders need to commit more to supporting local independent businesses, food and fishers rather than to large corporate and centralized food chains.
- At all levels of government, laws can be enacted to eliminate the use of harmful pesticides, herbicides, insecticide, fungicides and chemical fertilizers so that organic ones will once more become the norm.
- Large and centralized food chains need to stock more local products at a lower cost than those imported from off-Island. This would flip the current practices of offering cheap food at huge costs to local producers and nature.
- Islanders need to adopt the traditional practice of eating in season. As our ancestors would tell us, it was healthier and more sustainable.
- The provincial government can offer grants to those with sustainable back and community practices.
- Our current markets can be expanded upon with “pop-up” ones dotted throughout the Island.
- Online purchases of local produce and products can also be expanded upon.
- The enactment of laws to improve animal husbandry by assuring greater health and well being of livestock.
- Expand the role of the government with specific policies and funding programs to assist farmers, fishers, food producers and transportation companies with specific island needs to make this transition the “new norm”.
- Guarantee living wages with ample benefits to all employees within the food industry, such as cleaners, packers, assembly line workers, pickers, haulers, drivers, stockers of shelves, warehouse staff, cashiers.
I am not a farmer nor a fisher. My only role in the complex food web is as a consumer.
Just the same, we are all citizens in Canada’s democracy.
I recognize the need to work respectively with nature and local citizens as pivotal components of our ultimate shift to a low carbon society, in which food insecurity would hopefully and only be learned about in History books.
Betty L.E. Wilcox is a member of the P.E.I. Chapter, Council of Canadians, who lives in Stanhope.