Governance recommendations from forty years of national food strategy development in Canada and beyond

Abstract

This paper contributes to Canada’s current national food policy discussion by introducing lessons gleaned from the development of two earlier Canadian government food policy efforts, A Food Strategy for Canada (1977) and Canada’s Action Plan for Food Security (1998), as well as lessons drawn from national food strategy development in seven other countries. By examining the strengths and weaknesses of these previous policy-making processes, we show how today’s food policy conversation builds on the legacy of 1998's Action Plan. We then offer food policy governance recommendations designed to avoid the mistakes of the previous efforts. This paper explores international precedents for governance mechanisms designed to be inclusive of key food systems’ stakeholders, and to meaningfully include multiple levels of government in food governance. Drawing on both our domestic and international research, we conclude by recommending the establishment of a multi-sectoral and inter-governmental National Food Policy Council. We show how such a Council, operating in close cooperation with other key mechanisms, could help govern the pan-Canadian food strategy we advocate.

Beyond GDP: Lessons for Redefining Progress in Canadian Food System Policy

“…In other words, it is central to achieving multiple goals related to the wellbeing of society, including feeding people, sustaining human health, providing jobs and opportunities to create businesses, and supporting community economic development etc. Food system policy research in Canada often emphasizes that existing policy overlooks many of these important dimensions of human wellbeing for the purpose of economic growth in the agri-food sector (Andrée et al, 2018;Koc et al, 2008;MacRae, 1999;MacRae, 2011). Advocates for food system policy reform have expressed this critique in a number of ways.…”

“…During the former, agri-food policy sought to improve conditions for the sector by encouraging increased production and by providing assistance through income support and domestic market protections. In contrast, the market liberal paradigm is shaped by neoliberal priorities, emphasizing global market competitiveness and reduced government intervention as the primary pathway to vitality in the agri-food system (Skogstad, 2012;Andrée et al, 2018). During this period, we see the embodiment of liberal market priorities within agri-food policy goals.…”

“…For more than three decades, scholars and grassroots movements have been advocating for more coordinated and comprehensive approaches to food policy development. (Koc et al, 2008;Andrée et al, 2018). Advocacy efforts have led to the adoption of Food Policy for Canada in 2019 (Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, 2019), the first national strategy encouraging policy development across previously siloed areas of the food system.…”

Discursive Institutionalism and Food Policy Research: The Case Study of Canada’s National Food Policy

“…In response to this trend, Canadian stakeholders call for an integrated "pan-Canadian approach" (Andrée et al, 2018), or a "joined-up food policy" (MacRae, 2011;MacRae and Winfield, 2016), one which requires coordination across multiple federal policy domains (finance, health, environment, fisheries, agriculture, etc.) and levels of government, as well as encourages active engagement with civil society and industry actors.…”

The administrative state in food policymaking: a fait accompli

“…Before the historic national food policy in 2019, there were two major attempts of food policymaking at the federal government level including A Food Strategy for Canada in 1977 and Canada's Action Plan for Food Security in 1998; however, both were unsuccessful and fell short of reflecting a true food policy (Andrée et al ., 2018). Before the launch of the 2019 Food Policy for Canada , many nonstate actors rose to the challenge and proposed comprehensive food policies or national frameworks for Canada to fill the food policy lacunae.…”