Weslynne Ashton, ID Associate Professor of Environmental Management and Sustainability and co-director of the Food Systems Action Lab, discussed creating equity in food systems with Inside Climate News:
Ashton is collaborating with a group of academic researchers, community organizations, and civic partners on the systemic problem of marginalization of BIPOC and local urban farmers. The coalition has been awarded a $50,000 grant by the National Science Foundation to channel equity and sustainability into local food systems.
As food requirements of the world evolve, our food systems are affected by institutionalized agriculture. This includes big players who control procurement, production, and distribution. In this environment local producers are often sidelined and BIPOC players do not equitably participate in food systems.
Creating opportunities for small-scale urban farmers to interact and sell to large-scale institutions like schools and hospitals would go a long way toward creating equity in our food system.
