Community Food Systems Report Cards as Tools for Advancing Food Sovereignty in City-Regions

Charles Z. Levkoe, Mary Anne Martin, Karen Kerk and Francesca Hannan
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Charles Z. Levkoe: Canada Research Chair in Equitable and Sustainable Food Systems, Lakehead University, Canada
Mary Anne Martin: Research for Social Change Lab, Trent University, Canada
Karen Kerk: CityStudio, City of Thunder Bay, Canada
Francesca Hannan: Durham Food Policy Council, Canada

Urban Planning, 2025, vol. 10

Abstract: Developing pragmatic possibilities for advancing food sovereignty to address challenges of justice and sustainability within food systems is an essential project for human survival. A practical starting point is to identify existing challenges along with comprehensive strategies that avoid isolated fixes. Community food systems report cards are a tool to inform and influence city-region food system governance by providing a connected and comprehensive snapshot of these systems, connecting people, places, and processes, and informing research, decision-making, and program planning. This article explores and reflects on the experiences of developing community food systems report cards in Thunder Bay and Durham Region in Ontario, Canada. Through sharing lessons learned, cautions, and limitations, we explore the report cards’ origins, development processes, findings, distribution, and impacts. We argue that community food systems report cards can be a valuable tool for understanding a city-region food system, monitoring progress, identifying gaps, and comparing and communicating experiences to communities, food system stakeholders, and decision-makers. However, community food systems report cards are only the starting point for advancing food sovereignty in city-region food systems.

Keywords: city-region; food policy councils; food sovereignty; food system assessments; food systems report cards (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cog:urbpla:v10:y:2025:a:9413

DOI: 10.17645/up.9413

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