Resilient community food systems: Intersectional analysis across impacts, values, and organizational capacity
Date
2023-05
Authors
Long, Courtney Allison
Major Professor
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Owusu, Francis
Flora, Cornelia
Dorius, Shawn
Taylor, Gary
Heaverlo, Carol
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Abstract
This research focuses on the intersection of food systems and resilience and assesses the role that individuals and organizations play in increasing resilience for community food systems. Both natural and human made disasters impact individuals, families, and communities nationwide, and range in impact from loss of life and financial burden to food access constraints and loss of employment (Smith, 2022). There is a need to understand the evolving concerns around ecological shifts, increase in disasters, rural population decline, and supporting our future generations (Fainstein, 2014; Lin & Chang, 2013; Nelson, Zak, Davine, & Pau, 2016). Communities have differing vulnerabilities and level of resilience based on their potential for “sudden shocks (e.g., catastrophic weather events), intermittent shocks (e.g. price volatility), and gradual pressures (e.g. climate change and shifting human diets) (Schipanski, et al., Realizing Resilient Food Systems, 2016). Thus, understanding the adaptive capacity and perceived impact from shocks and pressures is critical to improve resilience (Vermeulen, Campbell, & Ingram, 2012; Schipanski, et al., 2016; Himanen et al., 2016). While disasters and resilience efforts connect to all areas of the community, this dissertation focuses on the potential of increasing resilience from the lens of food systems.
First, we will discuss frameworks for food systems, including a comparison across local, regional and community food systems. We will also review community development frameworks and assess interconnections for understanding resiliency based on the Community Capitals Framework, adaptive capacity, and additional community development strategies for resilience. From this review, a new resilient community food system definition (RCFS) was created and defined as the capacity for a place- and values-based food systems, and the actors within, to be able to withstand shocks and disruptive pressures while maintaining basic structures, processes and functions of and within the community food system and supply chain, ensuring the ability to produce and access nutritious and culturally acceptable food over time and space, and creating a new normality (Fainstein, 2014; Campanella, 2006; Schipanski et. Al., 2020).
Second, we will investigate individual and organizational capacity for increasing food systems resilience. Research on individual’s values as it relates to their community and food system will be discussed. This includes understanding individuals’ perceived value of farm and food businesses, shopping patterns, and community participation activities. Individuals show their personal values through behaviours which are impacted by a myriad of contexts as they shop and interact in our communities (Cairns & Johnston, 2018; Milani Marin & Russo, 2016). These relational values impact how where people spend their money, how they get involved in community, and where they spend time (Carolan, 2016; Wilkins, 2005), including their participation in and support for resilient community food systems. In addition to individual community actors, organizational support and capacity development can help increase resilience. We explore the role individual values have within their decision making related to resilience and food systems and how this relates to individuals’ response and interaction in a community food system.
Third, we will investigate specific organizations and their role in supporting resilient community food systems. While this research focuses on the specific intervention of Land Grant Universities and Extension (LGU-E), which are within all U.S states, and territories, we have also included additional organizations identified throughout the mixed-methods research. Land-Grant Universities are one of many organizations that may be beneficial in preparedness, respond and recovery through a disaster. LGU-E receive funding through the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890 and 1995 (Association of Public and Land Grant Universities, 2019) and in many cases are equipped to work across and within disciplines (Clancy, 2017). A hypothesis from this research is that, due to their tripartite goals of research, outreach, and education, Land-Grant University Extension may be well positioned to support in planning and enhancing resilient community food sytems, as well as determining best practices for recovery and response.
These three concepts will be discussed based on both literature review as well as findings from a mixed-methods research study across five place-based communities with unique food systems that were impacted from COVID-19, natural disasters, and climatic events. Each community participated in a phased research approach, including interviews (virtual), focus groups (in-person), and an individual digital survey, approved through IRB . The research led to understanding impacts from COVID-19 and natural disasters, identification of individual’s values related to community food systems, and organizational usefulness for response to different disasters. Based on the findings, the first chapter will review an overall understanding of the research; the second chapter will reveal impacts from COVID-19 and natural disasters and ways for achieving more resilience in the future; the third chapter will discuss how individual values impact actions related to resilience community food systems; the fourth chapter will reveal potentials for Land Grant University Extension’s role in supporting resilient food systems; and the fifth chapter will conclude with contributions to research and the academic field.
The results show that to foster increased resilience for community food systems,
1. All community capitals benefit resilience; however, natural, built, and social capitals were the most frequently discussed as pillars for resilience, including the ability to respond and recover following a shock. Social capital related to adaptive capacity and the ability for groups or networks to respond and act immediately.
a. A resilient community food systems framework was developed to assess existing conditions to prepare and respond to disasters. From this assessment, communities can identify implementation steps, and increase their resilience through community capitals and adaptive capacity measures.
2. While individuals may state a powerful desire and interest in supporting local food, individuals still value convenience and affordability over relationships with the local farmer or business owner, and in some cases more than the local product itself. These contradictory values can lead to cognitive dissonance and impact the support of local food systems.
3. Organizational support for facilitation, planning, and disaster response is seen as a major need across communities. LGU-E is not currently seen as an active participant in creating resilience for community food systems. However, LGU-E may be able to strengthen their participation and support for communities in future activities if they focus on building trust with the community and provide necessary and relevant technical assistance.
a. The resilient community food systems framework mentioned in 1.a. may be one tool that community organizations can utilize to assess and develop strategies for their future. LGU-E is one potential organization, among many, that could support in this effort.
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