Vision Statement
We envision a vibrant, just and sustainable food system* where:
- all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, nutritious and culturally acceptable food for an active and healthy life;
- essential principles are upheld: ecologically regenerative practices, viable livelihoods for food providers, and social justice for all;
- the local population actively participates in the decision-making processes related to food at a municipal, regional, and national levels;
- people have the desire, opportunity, and means to actively engage in all aspects of the food system; and
- food is celebrated as central to both culture and community.
* The term food system describes the interconnected systems and processes that influence nutrition, food, health, community development and agriculture.
Mission Statement
Just Food’s mission is to work towards vibrant, just and sustainable food and farming systems in the Ottawa region*.
* The bulk of our work is in the City of Ottawa and through partnerships expands to include our buy local region (Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec), and beyond.
Mandate
Food Access
- To enhance ongoing access to healthful food, for everyone in the Ottawa region, recognizing the diverse barriers that restrict food security.
Sustainable Agriculture
- To promote sustainable agricultural systems that include food grown, harvested, raised, processed and distributed in ways that preserve or enhance ecological benefits, while protecting and improving the social and economic conditions of farmers, their employees and local communities.
Food System
- To strengthen the productive capacity of our local foodshed.
- To enhance community participation, economic development and resilience within local food chains.
- To encourage diverse actors from all sectors to adopt a food systems lens*.
* The International Panel on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES) informs our understanding of the principles and values that underpin a sustainable food system – i.e., sustainable in all dimensions; diverse and resilient; democratic and empowering; socially and technologically innovative; and adequately measured. For more details, see: https://www.ipes-food.org/_img/upload/files/IPES%2010%20Principles%20of%20SFS.pdf
Partnership statement
Just Food achieves its goals by fostering partnerships among all participants in the food cycle, from seed-to compost. In doing so, we seek to realize the synergies possible when people work in a coordinated and collaborative way to achieve common goals.
