Food for People in Place: Reimagining Resilient Food Systems for Economic Recovery

Kelly Dombroski, Gradon Diprose, Emma Sharp, Rebekah Graham, Louise Lee, Matthew Scobie, Sophie Richardson, Alison Watkins and Rosemarie Martin-Neuninger
Additional contact information
Kelly Dombroski: Te Kura Aronukurangi | School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Gradon Diprose: Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Emma Sharp: Te Kura Mātai Taiao | School of Environment, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Rebekah Graham: Parents of Vision Impaired NZ Inc, Hamilton 3242, New Zealand
Louise Lee: Open Polytechnic, Lower Hutt 5011, New Zealand
Matthew Scobie: Te Kura Umanga | UC Business School, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Sophie Richardson: Te Kura Mātai Taiao | School of Environment, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
Alison Watkins: Te Kura Aronukurangi | School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Rosemarie Martin-Neuninger: Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 22, 1-17

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic and associated response have brought food security into sharp focus for many New Zealanders. The requirement to “shelter in place” for eight weeks nationwide, with only “essential services” operating, affected all parts of the New Zealand food system. The nationwide full lockdown highlighted existing inequities and created new challenges to food access, availability, affordability, distribution, transportation, and waste management. While Aotearoa New Zealand is a food producer, there remains uncertainty surrounding the future of local food systems, particularly as the long-term effects of the pandemic emerge. In this article we draw on interviews with food rescue groups, urban farms, community organisations, supermarket management, and local and central government staff to highlight the diverse, rapid, community-based responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings reveal shifts at both the local scale, where existing relationships and short supply chains have been leveraged quickly, and national scale, where funding has been mobilised towards a different food strategy. We use these findings to re-imagine where and how responsibility might be taken up differently to enhance resilience and care in diverse food systems in New Zealand.

Keywords: COVID-19; food security; New Zealand; governance; responsibility; food justice; alternative food movements; diverse economies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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