“Time for Action: Critical next steps to create a National School Food Program” by Dr. Jess Haines and Amberley Ruetz.

This op-ed originally appeared in the Hill Times on March 12, 2020 under the title “Feds should take steps to create national food program for schools”.

Policy Brief: School Food & Nutrition: The Brief

The implementation of a National School Food Program in Canada could create as many as 207,700 jobs and contribute $4.8 Billion in domestic food purchases by 2029.

Link to the full article “National School Food Program a short-term opportunity for jobs creation and economic growth” published in the Canadian Science Policy Centre on March 26, 2019.

“Food at school can improve children’s health and academic outcomes while creating economic opportunities for local, sustainable agriculture”. Check out my latest co-authored piece with Dr. Sara Kirk originally published in the Conversation Canada. Link to full article “Federal budget pledges a Canadian school food program but recipe requires funding”.

A “farm-to-school” movement is growing fast across Canada but there has been little research to evaluate their potential to support local food systems and economic development. My OMAFRA-funded research will examine the farm-to-school phenomenon as an agri-food value chain and assess how these programs might evolve to expand the scope and sustainability of local food systems in Ontario. (Link to full article “‘Farm-to-school’ movement takes root in Canada” published in the Conversation Canada on August 30, 2018).

Article republished by Toronto.com; the Weather Network, the Hamilton Spectator, York Region News, BizCommunity, and the University of Guelph News.

There would be many benefits from a National School Food Program and a soda tax could fund it (Link to full article “How to make a national school food program happen” featured in the Conversation Canada on August 28, 2018).

The article gained considerable media attention, with over 24+ interviews on CBC morning shows across the country. The article was republished by the Huffington Post Canada, the Huffington Post, the Winnipeg Free Press, the Halifax Chronicle Herald, the University of Dalhousie News, the University of Guelph News and the Huntsville Doppler.

Read the article and now wondering what you can do? Let your Member of Parliament know you support #NationalSchoolFoodProgram.

Use the email/letter template on my blog to ask your MP to champion this cause.

Accelerator Guelph participants set out to create a low-cost fruit and vegetable snack to be included in school lunches that will also address farm waste.

Full Article: https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/agri-food-incubator-seeks-to-disrupt-the-food-industry-818220

The five inaugural scholars are from Sri Lanka, Russia, Afghanistan and Canada, with each studying distinct fields varying from data science to nutrition.

Full Article: http://www.foodandfarming.ca/arrell-food-institute-scholars-research/

Interviewed on CTV about why Canada does not have a National School Food Program, how to make it happen, and why all children and our economy can benefit from healthy food at school [Sept 16, 2018].

Watch the interview by clicking here.

Discussed the economic potential of local food purchasing by Ontario schools to support regional food systems and economic development. This research will examine the farm-to-school phenomenon as an agri-food value chain and assess how these programs might evolve to expand the scope and sustainability of local food systems in Ontario.

[Sept 4, 2018]

A discussion with RBC Disruptors on how digital disruption is changing the skills we’ll need for the future of work.

Full Article: https://arrellfoodinstitute.ca/disruptors/