Government of Canada launches its 2030 agenda National strategy, Goal 2 is to ensure food security

In support of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Canada launched a program called Moving Forward Together – Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy. The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to eradicate poverty, protect the environment, and ensure that people live in peace and prosperity. One of the goals is to, ‘End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.’ Canada is working towards this by ensuring that by taking measures to improve food security and developing methods for sustainable agriculture.

Food policy of Canada

The Canadian Food Policy will lay the groundwork for greater integration and coordination of food-related policies and programs. This would allow for more long-term planning and improved government coordination and accountability through regular reporting to Canadians on progress and accomplishments.

To support better long-term planning for the Canadian food system, six long-term interconnected and mutually reinforcing outcomes have been identified.

Vibrant communities:

Innovative community-led and community-based programs contribute to vibrant and resilient communities by offering culturally diverse solutions in an inclusive way to people and households facing immediate and long-term food-related challenges.

Increased connections within food systems:

A central component of food policy is increased cooperation on food-related issues across government departments, culture, fields of work, and academic disciplines. Increased connections across Canada’s food system will improve the ability to collaborate on food-related issues.

Improved food-related health outcomes:

The food that Canadians consume is a major factor in their overall health and well-being. Everyone involved in the food system should work together to make it easier for Canadians to get enough safe and nutritious food, to eat a healthy, culturally diverse diet, and to reduce the burden of diet-related disease.

Strong Indigenous food systems:

The Food Policy for Canada will support strong and prosperous First Nations, Inuit, and Métis food systems, as defined by communities themselves, as well as advance the Government of Canada’s commitment to support them.

Sustainable food practices:

Maintaining natural resources is critical. Greater efforts to develop and maintain sustainable food practices will help the food system make better use of natural resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create efficiencies and cost savings.

Inclusive economic growth:

Given the increasing global demand for high-quality, nutritious, and sustainably produced food, Canada’s food system has enormous potential for economic growth. Canada is well positioned to meet this demand while retaining a diverse and inclusive food and agriculture industry.

The particular target of ensuring universal access to safe and nutritious food is included in SDG 2 “Zero Hunger,” and one of the indicators is the prevalence of moderate and serious food insecurity.

Actions taken by the federal government to achieve the Food Policy for Canada outcomes and supporting targets would also assist the government in meeting existing commitments, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Canada’s approach to achieving the goal of zero hunger as specified in the UN SDGs will ensure that:

• Identify and address the underlying causes of food insecurity.
• Make local food systems more robust.
• Support agricultural sovereignty for indigenous peoples.
• Ensure that everyone has a seat at the policy-making table.
• Encourage the creation of a national school food program.