Given the farm crisis of the late 1980’s, and more recent struggles in the farm sector, such as globally declining commodity prices and foreign competition, the local food movement has emerged as a response to lower farm incomes and increased costs of business.
Primary Benefits of The Local Food Movement
Proponents of the local food movement advocate that local foods are a benefit along four primary sectors: Environmental, social, economic, and human:
- Environmental: Avoids extensive fossil fuel use, reduced food miles and non-industrially processed foods (fewer chemicals used and large machinery less necessary); Biodiversity encouraged through increases in organic production
- Social: Helps build community vibrancy and retain local traditions; Aids tourism and associated regional identity formation; people want more locally grown foods
- Economic: Short supply chains and farmers’ markets keep income and employment in locality; Fosters tourism and niche markets.
- Human: Fosters fresh, seasonal food intake; higher content of vital water-soluble vitamins (ie. no transcontinental shipping); Increased fibre and lower fat, sugar and salt content of non-industrially processed foods
Long-Term Sustainable, Environmental Farming
A sustainable local food system will increase the sustainability of farms in the region. It will also shrink the ecological footprint of food and will in turn ensure the security of the regional food supply.
In some studies, researchers have found that of the foods purchased at a farmers’ market in Toronto, consisting of locally produced food, averaged 0.0795 tonnes of Green House Gas emissions per kilometre of transport.
In contrast, the products from the supermarket nearby, mostly consisting non-local foods, had Green House Gas emissions of 3.853 tonnes per kilometre. This is just one example of a long list of comparisons between local and conventional food miles.
Social Benefits of Local Foods
There have been very few studies done to illustrate the social benefits to farmers and other producers. However, a recent study conducted by Local Food Plus has found that consumers are increasingly moving towards buying local foods: “86 percent of Canadians recognize the importance of local food and 46 percent will buy local foods first”.
The fact is clear; consumers want a greater voice in determining the source of their food. Sweden has recently announced plans to create a new label for ‘climate-friendly’ foods. Consumers will be able to choose food according to the impact its production and transportation methods have on the climate, and the UK grocery chain Tesco has also started to put ‘carbon labels’ on its products.
Economic Benefits of Local Food
Finally, Canada is a net importer of agricultural goods which, especially in these harsh economic times, can be a drain on our hard-earned money. Between 1990 and 2001 agricultural exports increased by 50%, but imports increased by over 70% over the same period.
Yet, if Canadians were better informed about the benefits of local food initiatives in their region, Canada could reduce its reliance on food imports and could reduce scarcity in the food system.
Ontario accounted for 57.5% of the Canadian agricultural imports in 2002 (representing a $3.7 billion agricultural trade deficit). This deficit could be dramatically reduced using local food system programs.
The benefits of local food movements are enormous, but perhaps the point most important to parents and families, is that local foods are nutritious and healthier for the environment.
- Bentley, S. and Barker, R. (2005). Fighting Global Warming at the Farmers’ Market: The Role of Local Food Systems in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions. A Foodshare Research in Action Report, Second Edition. pp. 1-14.
- Holt, G. (2007). From local food to localised food. Anthropology of Food, Issue 2, March 2007.
- Marsden et al. (1999). Sustainable Agriculture, Food Supply Chains, and Regional Development: Editorial Introduction. International Planning Studies, Issue 4, No. 3. pp 295-301.
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