Groundwork Series

Groundwork Series: Food + Land + Climate

Three webcasts were held in preparation for the UN Food Systems Summit in 2021. Hosted by ClimateFast in partnership with Drawdown Toronto (now RegeneratingTO), EcoJust Food Network, and Green Thumbs Growing Kids, their purpose was to highlight the interconnected issues facing our food and agriculture sector. They also showcased a few of the amazing individuals, organizations, businesses and programs already working within this sector of solutions.

Food systems have a huge impact on climate, and climate has a huge influence on food production. Agriculture and changes in our food system can be a climate solution. Drawdown research has shown that the many facets of the global food system produce almost a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Living in balance is being in harmony with the Earth's life systems, within us and around us, not only individually but in the economic and social systems we have created. Everything we put into the air, the water or the soil we put into our bodies - and our children's bodies and the body of every living thing on Earth.

Imagine if:

Farmers worked to enhance biodiversity on their lands - of plants, animals, insects, birds and microbes
They shared their knowledge and produce cooperatively for greater productivity all around and were well compensated for their work
More young people were attracted to farming careers by their idealism, a good healthy work environment and financial stability
Small scale, intensely cultivated farms were linked system wide, fed cities locally, and reduced food imports
Farms become carbon sinks, reducing overall greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere

Webinars available on YouTube

Session 1: Food + Land + Climate

Groundwork for Change
Speakers:

Kahontakwas, Diane Longboat, Mohawk elder, teacher, knowledge keeper, founder of Soul of the Mother
Guy Dauncey, Founder of BC Sustainable Energy Association and author, The Economics of Kindness,The Practical Utopian
Josephine Gray, Founder of Oasis Food Hub, Eco-just Food Network, St.Jamestown Coop
Bjornar Egede-Nissen, former co-chair of Drawdown Toronto

Session 2: Transformative Farming

The economics, science and art of regenerative agriculture
Speakers:

Mary Delaney, Founder of Land over Landings
Isaac Crosby, Lead for urban agriculture programming at Evergreen Brick Works, Indigenous gardens at UTSC
Darrin Qualman, National Farmers' Union, Director of Climate Crisis Policy and Action
Rachel Parent, founder of Kids Right To Know

Session 3: Bridging the Rural-Urban Divide

Food from the land - growing our future together!
Speakers:

Sally Miller, Fair Finance Fund
Michelle Delaney, Co-founder of Thorncliffe Park Urban Farmers
Sunday Harrison, Founder of Green Thumbs Growing Kids
Lily Phan, National Farmers Union and founder ofFish Tree Farms

Groundwork Series