The food system is something that's so important and plays such a critical role in our lives that we don't even think about it. We just assume that it's there and it will always be there- to the point that even urban planners don't consider it when drawing up new communities. In the Kaufman and Kameshwari survey, it proves that the food system has been overlooked by public entities for way too long. Many urban planners said it wasn't their specialty, didn't know how to intervene or just let the private market handle the food system.
What struck me the most was that these urban planners, who have so much expertise in building communities and fostering change, didn't know how to do that to most valuable thing that gives us life; food.
It's kind of unfathomable how little attention the food system has gotten by public entities that assumed it was another's job to handle. The pollution caused by agriculture, land use, urban farm land use, food swamps and deserts- none to only a tiny portion has been studied to find the effects it has on our cities and how to improve on it.
The factoid, out of all 93 planning schools in North America, none offer specialization in the food system startled me too. This was in 1996 but I wonder how much has actually changed in twenty years. As a student taking an urban planning class talking about our food system, is this class a one-of-a-kind thing? Or are there more universities opening up classes to give students vital information about how to improve the system that offers so much abundance at the cost of our resources and health.
I do think the fact that our education system doesn't highlight the importance of food and creating affordable and equitable access is astonishing. Although there are many courses and majors that are framed from an individualist perspective of how food affects the body, there isn't a lot of emphasis on how food shapes our cities and how our cities continually shape the food system. Do you think that food systems should just be discussed in planning? Is there maybe a better major or department that could link back to food systems or should it be something that is completely on its own?
ReplyDeleteMaybe geography? I think Planning it a great area to hit on almost every aspect of food -- processing, consumption, disposal, etc. Agriculture would be another food-related subject, but it really only looks at the production or business side of it. Maybe there could be "food studies" degree or minor, like Environmental Studies, which is usually inter-departmental (science, philosophy, literature, architecture, etc.).
DeleteAlmost 95% of the time that I tell people I am in a Food Systems Planning class I get great reactions and amazement with questions as to what it is. I feel as though food planning is just a topic that has been held in the dark. Many people have a passion for cooking, so it makes logical sense to infer that they would love to know where that food came from, how it was processed, and why it is processed if it can be produced organically. Based on the positive reactions I receive from students around campus, people are enticed to learn more about our food systems because they have, in most cases, never heard much controversy over it. They think food is food and it pops up on their market shelf with no global impact across several topics.
ReplyDeleteWhen people have basic necessities such as apples, bananas, even their toilets and toilet paper or espresso lattes, they forget just how valuable that food is. The supply is so abundant that people take food for advantage, which leads to our ignorance of where it comes from and the devaluing of it. Although where our food comes from is not a taboo topic, it is something that is disregarded because of the easy access we have to such a surplus commodity.
In addition, I aways believed world religion or world geography were a crucial class that should be required for K-12 schools. Now, I have a growing sentiment that food planning should also be incorporated into it because it is knowledge that should be spread for consumers to make better choices in what they decide to purchase. In regards to a major or department to link to food systems planning, this planning overlaps onto many concerns such as a city's economy, politics, negative externalities, and available arable land - so, ideally it should be considered in all fields to study.
Kavanjote, I love your point about making food planning a class that children take alongside "traditional" classes. Math, reading, and writing are all central to our lives, and thus we instill the knowledge of these subjects in our children. I would argue that food is even MORE central to our lives, and yet it is swept under the rug. I have heard about several initiatives to institute gardens at schools, and incorporate gardening into science classes. I love this idea, but I think gardening should be incorporated into every aspect of a child's education, including when she gets her meal at lunch!
ReplyDeleteKavanjote, I love your point about making food planning a class that children take alongside "traditional" classes. Math, reading, and writing are all central to our lives, and thus we instill the knowledge of these subjects in our children. I would argue that food is even MORE central to our lives, and yet it is swept under the rug. I have heard about several initiatives to institute gardens at schools, and incorporate gardening into science classes. I love this idea, but I think gardening should be incorporated into every aspect of a child's education, including when she gets her meal at lunch!
ReplyDelete