With the constant influx of information surrounding food, agriculture, sustainability, and so many related fields, sometimes it can be difficult to navigate all the terms that are used to describe food in our society. Because of that, we’ve compiled a list of terms that you may come across, but not fully understand:
Photo: https://sarep.ucdavis.edu/research/foodsystems
Food System: A food system is a web of human activity linking all food processes (like production, distribution, and consumption) with our health and the environment around us. Different food systems are constantly occurring, all connected with each other, and can be different scales and sizes. For instance, the food system of your household is smaller than the one of your state, but the state’s food system does impact your household’s food system (source).
Food Security: Food security is defined by the World Food Summit of 1996 as “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life” (source). This includes consistent physical and financial access to food that meets one’s dietary restrictions, preferences, and cultural traditions (source).
Food Desert: A food desert is a place in which residents have incredibly limited access to foods that are nutritious and affordable. This could mean there isn’t a local grocery store and one doesn’t have reliable transportation to get healthy foods. Or it could mean that the closest, only affordable option is a fast food chain. In any case, a food desert makes it difficult to maintain the healthy diet we all need (source).
Food Sovereignty: Food sovereignty connects access to food and the resources to produce food. The idea of food sovereignty is intended to create a broader participation in the decisions that surround production and distribution of people’s food. The term is technically defined as “the right of peoples and sovereign states to democratically determine their own agricultural and food policies” (source).
Food Justice: Food justice is a term that encompasses a large portion of the food system: “[supporting] universal and equitable access to nutritious, affordable, and culturally appropriate food for all community members while promoting the well-being of farmers, farm and food workers, communities, and the environment” (source). Food justice combines the idea of personal food security with security for producers and health of the environment.
Agroecology: Agroecology is a practice and science that focuses on applying various ecological practices and principles to agriculture and food production. Its goal is to create more sustainable food systems at all levels (source).
At the Kodiak Cave, we are aiming to maximize food security for Cascadia College students. We want our students to know that they have food available to them when it’s needed, whether they live in a food desert or right next to a grocery store. It doesn’t matter your situation, the Kodiak Cave is here for ALL Cascadia students to use!
For more information on Washington-specific food system sustainability, check out Washington State University’s food systems website:
Kodiak Cave 