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Food Miles Project

Blueberries and raspberriesWhere does our food come from? How much of it was grown here? How much of it is being imported? What are the greenhouse gas emissions associated with that food transport? What are the environmental, social and economic benefits of a more locally-based diet? What are the challenges associated with procuring local food?

These are just some of the questions that we explored throughout our Food Miles project. The Ecology Action Centre, in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, undertook a three year Food Miles Project, which began in April 2007.  It has three components: research, public education and policy.
 
The food miles research is providing the basis for further public education and policy initiatives. In addition to researching why local food choices are beneficial to local economies, communities and the environment, we examined ways make buying local food easier.
 
To download the executive summary of the report and/or the full report, released in July 2010, please click here.  
 
We have also put together an education toolkit [pdf, 600 KB] and slide presentation [pdf, 600 KB] for those wishing to start discussions about our food system in the classroom or the community. 
 
To learn more about the Food Miles Project, check out the following articles and press releases:
 
You can also check out the CBC Land and Sea documentary that we participated in.  In Turning a Green Leaf, the McMillin family make a shift in their food purchasing habits in order to reduce their environmental impact.

 

 

 

Food Action Committee

Phone: (902) 442–1077
Fax: (902) 405-3716

*please note* As the regularly scheduled May FAC meeting would fall on Victoria Day, we’ve moved it a week earlier – to May 13.  The June FAC meeting will fall on the regular day.

We meet at the EAC on the third Monday of every month at 5:30. We need new members committed to a vision of sustainability. And there is lots to do: research, education, organizing, lobbying. Get involved today!