By Charles Z. Levkoe, Jill K. Clark, Johanna Wilkes, and Peter Andree
The dismantling of government institutions and an erosion of transparent governance in the United States are cause for serious concern.
The situation south of the border has underscored the value of democracy and governance mechanisms that bolster civil society and the engagement of an array of stakeholders — from Indigenous communities to private sector organizations — in the political process.
In Canada, people and organizations working in the food system have a long history of engaging with government. Their efforts have included building inclusive governance structures that incorporate food producers, harvesters and workers across the food chain.
A major breakthrough came in 2019 when the Canadian government launched the Food Policy for Canada “as a framework to align and co-ordinate federal food-related initiatives and address critical challenges facing Canada’s food systems to improve social, health, environmental and economic outcomes.”
The multi-stakeholder Canadian Food Policy Advisory Council was subsequently created. Initially described as a promising example of government engagement, both the food policy and the advisory council have yet to reach their full potential.
Talking to stakeholders
Our research demonstrates these types of initiatives must be prioritized and adequately resourced to ensure collaborative government initiatives survive.
As four academics studying effective and participatory approaches to building healthy, equitable and sustainable food systems, our study of the Food Policy Advisory Council aimed to understand its development, function, potential value and impact.
We spoke to 13 inaugural members to ask if and how the council — which includes farmers, grocery executives and food system academics — has enabled productive engagement with government and other food systems decision-makers. We also drew on written feedback from government staff about our preliminary research findings.
Food systems in Canada
Recent reports show that more than 20 per cent of Canadians experience food insecurity, and of those almost 25 per cent are children. At the same time, nearly half of all food is wasted with more than 40 per cent of this waste deemed avoidable.
Furthermore, the way food is produced and consumed fuels the climate crisis and is linked to an estimated one-third of greenhouse gas emissions globally, contributing to floods, fires, heat waves and drought.
In 2018, diverse stakeholders agreed that an advisory group was needed to find integrated solutions to complex food issues. They looked to food policy councils as models for collaboration that would include multi-sectoral representatives from across food systems.
Advocates of the Food Policy Advisory Council hoped this new collaborative initiative could offer guidance and build consensus on a range of different issues. Established in 2021, the council has advised the Canadian government on issues like food waste, agricultural sustainability, food insecurity and the design of a National School Food Program.
Insights from council members
Our conversations with Food Policy Advisory Council members revealed a shared belief in the need for a diverse group of food systems advocates to advise the government on food-related programs and policies. Members were deeply committed to the council’s process and brought diverse knowledge and experiences to the table.
Nonetheless, they pointed to flaws in the structure and function of the council. For example, representation and compensation, leading to inequities among members and their respective communities, were points of concern for many participants.
Furthermore, Indigenous representation was limited and members who stepped down were not replaced. Some participants noted tensions between the desire to openly engage with their constituencies and confidentiality agreements with the government about the council’s work.
Our research points to the need to involve Food Policy Advisory Council members more deeply in decision-making, and to establish a more transparent feedback process. Though a new round of council recruitment was launched in 2023 and many nominations were submitted, no new members have been selected. Furthermore, the Food Policy Advisory Council has not met since fall of 2023.
Collaborative governance
Despite these challenges, the council can still play a critical role in supporting the Food Policy For Canada and food systems more broadly.
In addition, outcomes from participatory governance have the potential to ensure government accountability, to fuel new and innovative ideas and to build valuable relationships across sectors, scales and places. In this moment of crisis and uncertainty, this type of collaborative governance is essential.
For this to happen, the Food Policy Advisory Council needs to be prioritized by its members and by the Liberal government, and provided with adequate resources and capacity to ensure its ongoing success. The new minister of agriculture and agri-Food, Heath MacDonald, will ultimately decide the Food Policy Advisory Council’s fate.
As American democratic institutions falter and our strongest ally imposes wide-ranging tariffs and threatens Canadian sovereignty, the federal government must preserve and enhance participatory governance entities like the Canadian Food Policy Advisory Council.
It’s an innovative space for finding solutions with civil society, the private sector and Indigenous communities that could ultimately strengthen both democracy and food systems in Canada.
About the Authors:
- Charles Z. Levkoe is the Canada Research Chair in Equitable and Sustainable Food Systems, Lakehead University
- Jill K. Clark is a Professor of Public Affairs
- Johanna Wilkes is a Research Assistant, Food Systems, Lakehead University
- Peter Andree is a Professor of Political Science, Carleton University
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This article originally appeared in The Conversation.
