How can we ensure food systems planning and policy are effectively integrated with other sustainability imperatives?
Sustainable development is best performed through integrated approaches that recognize linkages and interdependencies between environmental, social, and economic factors. Accordingly, FAI employs systems thinking in its planning and policy research to explore how different food systems strategies and approaches align and/or conflict with other sustainability objectives, as well as to examine current progress in integrated food systems planning and policy. Current research projects include an analysis of integrated community sustainability plans in British Columbia to examine how (and how well) local governments integrate food and farm objectives with other environmental, social, and economic goals in their planning processes. Planned projects in this area include an effort that will examine the food systems vulnerabilities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic and determine ways of increasing resilience to multiple shocks (including climate change), and a project that will use a novel analytical framework to examine how local food systems can be developed in ways that align with climate, biodiversity, and health objectives.
Learn more about the FAI's integrated planning research projects:
• Food Systems Vulnerabilities
• ICSP and Food
• Equitable Food Systems
• World Water Journeys
• Agriculture and Health
• One Health
Publications
Dring, C., & Newell, R. (2022). Building a Foundation to Resilient Food Systems in the Fraser Valley Region: Summary Report. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.33906.79045
Dring, C., & Newell, R. (2022). Mapping Food System Impacts, Hazards, and Vulnerabilities in the Fraser Valley Region Workshop: Summary Report. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.31197.69604
Dring, C., & Newell, R. (2021). Fraser Valley Food System Vulnerability Workshop: Summary Report. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.34634.08648
Ghadiri, M., Issac, J., & Newell, R. (2022). Exploring food systems in the Comox Valley through a climate-biodiversity-health lens: Preliminary analysis and initial insights. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.14330.77768
Issac, J., Newell, R., Dring, C., White, C., Ghadiri, M., Pizzirani, S., & Newman, L. (2022). Integrated sustainability planning and local food systems: Examining areas of and gaps in food systems integration in community sustainability plans for municipalities across British Columbia. Sustainability, 14(11), 6724. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116724.
Jost, F. Newell, R., & Dale, A. (2021). CoLabS: A collaborative space for transdisciplinary work in sustainable community development. Heliyon, 7(2), e05997. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e05997
Newell, R., & Dale, A. (2020). COVID-19 and climate change: An integrated perspective. Cities & Health, 1-5. doi: 10.1080/23748834.2020.1778844
Newell, R., Dale, A., & Lister, N.-M. (2022). An integrated climate-biodiversity framework to improve planning and policy: an application to wildlife crossings and landscape connectivity. Ecology and Society, 27(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-12999-270123
Newell, R., & Dring, C. (2022). Food Systems Hazards, Vulnerabilities and Impacts in the Lower Mainland BC. https:doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15365.42721
Newell, R., Dring, C., & Newman, L. (2022). Reflecting on COVID-19 for integrated perspectives on local and regional food systems vulnerabilities. Urban Governance, 2(2), 316-327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ugj.2022.09.004
Newell, R., McCarthy, N., Picketts, I., Davis, F., Hovem, G., & Navarrete, S. (2021). Communicating complexity: Interactive model explorers and immersive visualizations as tools for local planning and community engagement. FACETS, 6(1), 287-316. doi: 10.1139/facets-2020-0045
Newell, R., & Picketts, I.M. (2020). Spaces, places, and possibilities: A participatory approach for developing and using integrated models for community planning. City and Environment Interactions, 6, 100040. doi: 10.1016/j.cacint.2020.100040
Newman, L. (2024). Connecting for the Future: A One Health Approach for UFV. University of the Fraser Valley, January 2024.
O’Riordan, J., Karlsen, E., Sandford, B., Newman, L., Hotte, N., Martens, L., Strand, M., & McNamara, K. (2013). Climate change adaptation and Canada's crops and food. Burnaby, BC: Adaptation to Climate Change Team (ACT), Simon Fraser University, July 2013.
Powell, L., Lenore, N., & Kurrein, M. (2016). Agriculture’s Connection to Health: A summary of the evidence relevant to British Columbia. Vancouver, B.C.: Provincial Health Services Authority, Population and Public Health Program.
Young, C., Glaros, A., Newman, L., & Pizzirani, S. (2024). Assessing Climate Vulnerabilities of British Columbia and California Food Systems Through Spatial Analysis. The University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC.