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Food Secure Communities

What is a FSC? Is it the equivilient of a cty that has achieved food security or cfs?This paper explores the opportunities and pitfalls of the FSC approach.

The appeal of a FSC is that it signifies a goal toward which proponents of FS and CFSstrive to achieve. But exactly what is being achieved is very open to interpretation.

FSC as a concept:

We begin with some definitions that point the way.

FS has a number of often used definitions. A common"obtaining a culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate diet through non-emergency (or

conventional) food sources at all times".

FS applied globally

FS in the US has been more traditionallyCFS in the US emerged as a common term as part of the emerging CFSC that started in

1994-95.

is "all people in a community obtaining a culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate

diet through non-emergency (or conventional) food sources at all times". It was

developed when the CFSC was formed in 1994?? by simply inserting "in a community"

to that commonly cited definition for food security per se..

But community food security has particular thrusts that are distinctive from those offood security per se, at least with respect to how the two function within the UnitedStates.

CFS also struggles with its own limitations and contradictions. It needs to beconsistent in its practice, which comes from having a clear understanding of its meaning

and well-articulated principles and objectives. While these are not there, there are

components that clearly represent aspecxts of CFS here that need to be taken into

account.

FS in the US:

In the US, policies and programs represented under "food security" generally focus on theindividual/household level of need, mostly as food assistance and social welfare

programs. There is less emphasis on food access or concern for where food comes from.

CFS in the US and Canada:

CFS programs stress

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- improved access to and availability of food, particularly at the community level; e.g.,

advocating for more retail food stores in a neighborhood, linking communities to local

agriculture, and helping residents produce more of their own food.

ElemENTS of FS in the US:

1. Emergency food:

2. Anti-hunger:

- food programs e.g., food stamps- other social welfare programs non-food

- increasing hh resources (e.g., targeting minimum wage increase, living wage

campaigns)

- some aspects of access e.g. affordable food in the cty like supermarkets- strong goverement role

- not much emphasis on where or how food is produced or on the sustainability of

our food system

- quantitative vs. qualitative nutrition not as much an emphasis, or food quality

Elements of CFS:

- community-based approaches

- access and availability are priorities- local food system emphasis

- how food produced by whom and how sustainability is important

- where and by who

- fiid quality especially fresh. access to fresh, high quality foods throughgardening, farmers' markets, CSAs, improved school meal programs, and other

community-based food initiatives.

- Not as much emphasis on nutrition per se-

process - how such objectives are realized.

Food security as a continuum:

- access to and availability of food along a continuum from the individual or

household level through community, regional, national and global levels. "Thinkglobally and act locally". supporting practices that displace subsistence farming

and replace it with low wage, environmentally destructive production for export.

FS and CFS are "niches" within such a spectrum.

Policy - promote right to food

Measuring food security:

FS:

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USDA's 18-item scale for measuring food insecurity primarily assesses whether

households get enough food.

Limits:- Does not capture food safety and the nutritional quality of the diet.

- Quantitative vs. quialitative. Yet it is clear that poor quality cheap foods are

responses for food insecurity, promiting obesity and other health problems

CFS

- measure diets, nutrition?

- Measure cooking and food prep. Skills

- process - engaging people in a process to bring about needed social and environmental

changes that are integral to building long-term food security in the community andbeyond.

- empowerment and

- participation in the food system

- focusing on community-based activity in the context of a broader food securityframework to be more effective;

- emphasizing local/regional food systems as part of promoting a sustainableglobal food system;

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

- Regardless of the value of such programs, advocates need to consider whether these

activities should fall under the rubric of CFS or, in fact, how they fit in with prevailing

definitions for food security; e.g.; The interface between hunger relief efforts andcommunity food security remains a subject of ongoing debate within the CFSC.

- Also, food security as food safity and food defense.