{"id":1171,"date":"2016-11-01T14:35:56","date_gmt":"2016-11-01T17:35:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/projects.upei.ca\/iis\/?page_id=1171"},"modified":"2016-11-01T14:35:56","modified_gmt":"2016-11-01T17:35:56","slug":"sustainable-agriculture-and-the-islands-food-system","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/projects.upei.ca\/testforneal\/events\/public-symposia\/sustainable-agriculture-and-the-islands-food-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Public Symposium: Sustainable Agriculture and the Island’s Food System (2016)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Public Symposium: Sustainable Agriculture and the Island\u2019s Food System<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
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Monday, November 14, 2016 | 7-9 p.m.<\/strong>
Duffy Science Centre Amphitheatre, Room 135, UPEI Campus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prince Edward Island\u2019s \u201cfood system\u201d was the topic of a Public Symposium held at UPEI\u2019s Duffy Science Centre Amphitheatre on Monday, November 14, 2016. In particular, the discussion focused on a move toward a more sustainable agriculture, with a stronger emphasis on local food and food security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This event was one of a regular series of Public Symposia<\/a> sponsored by UPEI\u2019s Institute of Island Studies, in conjunction with UPEI Research Services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WATCH THE VIDEO<\/a>\u00a0| PART 2<\/a> | PART 3<\/a> | PART 4
<\/a><\/strong>Rapporteur’s report by\u00a0Erin Kielly<\/a>, The Guardian<\/em>, December 8, 2016<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The main speaker was distinguished author and public policy specialist Dr. Mark Lapping<\/strong>, long associated with the Edmu<\/a>n<\/a>d S. Muskie School of Public Service<\/a> at the University of Southern Maine. Dr. Lapping has held many academic leadership posts, including that as founding Dean of the prestigious School of Rural Planning and Development at the University of Guelph. Throughout his career, he has maintained a strong interest in land issues in Prince Edward Island, and has published several papers and studies on the topic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, Dr. Lapping has focused his work on food systems and has written extensively on the subject. He was the leader of an ambitious undertaking at the Muskie School which developed a food plan and strategy for the state of Maine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo most people,\u201d says Dr. Lapping, \u201cfood is about growing and consuming food.  But a food system,\u201d he continues, \u201cis a large set of processes and it is critical to take a wider, systems perspective. Only then might we have a more robust understanding of the ways by which a sustainable agriculture can become part of a larger process of change toward a more nutritious and just life for individuals, families and communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Responding to Dr. Lapping\u2019s talk was a Panel comprised of two Island farmers and a researcher in public health nutrition. Barry Cudmore<\/strong> of Brackley Beach farms seed potatoes, soy beans, and grains. A Nuffield scholar<\/a> and member of the Atlantic Agriculture Hall of Fame, he is a proponent of seeking farm sustainability in moving from commodities to branded products, and reconnecting consumers with producers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mark Bernard<\/strong> and his wife Sally operate Barnyard Organics<\/a> in Freetown. As the fourth-generation Bernard on this family farm, Mark has moved away from potato production. The objective of Barnyard Organics is \u201cto bring the farm back to its original state as a self-sustaining mixed farm, using traditional methods combined with some of the efficient technologies of our time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The third Panelist was Dr. Colleen Walton<\/strong>, Associate Professor in Applied Human Sciences at UPEI. She has over 20 years of working experience within the Island\u2019s food system. Her research interests lie in the area of building capacity among groups and individuals toward strengthened livelihoods and greater household food security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Members of the public were cordially invited to attend. Admission was free. Following the presentations, there was time for discussion and questions from the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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RETURN TO PUBLIC SYMPOSIUM PAGE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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