Empowering Community Food Systems: Building Food Sovereignty
COVID-19 exposed just how fragile global supply chains really are—a factory closure across an ocean or a blockage in the Suez Canal can quickly empty grocery store shelves right here at home. These shocks made it clear that our food security is even more vulnerable than we realized. But if we look closer, the solution is right at our doorstep: investing in local and regional food systems.
The next time you reach for an ingredient, ask yourself—could this be grown or produced in Nova Scotia? In many cases, the answer is yes. Our province boasts more farmers markets per capita than anywhere else in Canada, with dozens of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs and a growing network of community kitchens and ovens. These local efforts keep more dollars in the community, lower our carbon footprint, and create jobs.
Yet our agricultural sector faces real challenges—rising input costs, aging farmers with no clear paths for succession, shrinking farmland, and unpredictable weather. But with challenge comes opportunity. What if Nova Scotia’s farmers pivoted towards serving local markets instead of relying on exports? What if consumers demanded local food in grocery aisles, making it worthwhile for retailers to source nearby? Could we revitalize food processing by using underutilized fish plants for multi-purpose food production? Could we create employment opportunities as we build a local food system?
Food sovereignty isn’t just a policy—it’s a community movement that builds resilience, supports economic justice, and tackles climate adaptation head-on. At RCFNS, we believe with Nova Scotian innovation, determination, and a commitment to place, we can regenerate our rural food system so that it feeds us all—securely, sustainably, and with pride.
#LocalFoodSystems #NovaScotiaFood #Innovation #RuralNovaScotia #RCFNS
