Integrated sustainability planning and local food systems: Examining areas of and gaps in food systems integration in community sustainability plans for municipalities across British Columbia
Date
2022
Authors
Issac, Jofri
Newell, Robert
Dring, Colin
White, Charmaine
Ghadiri, Mohaddese
Pizzirani, Stefania
Newman, Lenore
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sustainability
Abstract
No “one size fits all” approach exists for local sustainability and food systems planning.
Such planning must balance needs for being both comprehensive and place-based. The current study
explores this tension by examining Integrated Community Sustainability Plans (ICSP) developed by
municipalities in British Columbia (BC), Canada. The research examines items and actions related
to food systems (focusing on agriculture and food production) in the ICSPs of municipalities in
different regions across BC to (1) identify how municipalities “integrate” food systems with other
sustainability objectives, (2) elucidate how place and geography influence integrated planning, and
(3) reveal gaps in integrated approaches to developing local food systems. The study employs
document analysis and thematic coding methodology. The results indicate that common areas of
food systems integration in ICSPs include local economy and education. Many plans outline goals for
bolstering local food economies and building local food capacity through community participation
and engagement. Findings also show how foci and approaches for developing sustainable food
systems vary by region. The study elucidates how food systems are integrated within place-based
sustainability plans as well as reveals gaps that local governments can address when adopting and
implementing integrated sustainability plans for improving food systems.
Description
Keywords
integrated planning, food systems, sustainable community development, place-based planning
Citation
Issac, J., Newell, R., Dring, C., White, C., Ghadiri, M., . . . Newman, L. (2022). “Integrated sustainability planning and local food systems: Examining areas of and gaps in food systems integration in community sustainability plans for municipalities across British Columbia.” Sustainability, 14(11), 6724. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116724