Community-based Methodologies for Local Food Systems: a Toolkit
How can communities use research to develop more resilient and equitable food systems? This is one of the key questions driving the work of the Dawson’s Food Justice & Sustainability Hub.
From 2018 to 2020, we worked closely together with neighbourhood food organizations to develop research tools to improve their goals and mission. We are pleased to present the results of this community-based research project in a new report, Community-based Methodologies for Local Food Systems: a Toolkit.
The tools developed by each of our community partners can be used and adapted by organizations and researchers. We hope that it can inspire ideas for community-based methodologies for resilience and equity in local food systems, and help document successful interventions.
Who can use the toolkit?
The toolkit is for community organizations, local government, researchers and citizens.
Who made this toolkit?
The toolkit was put together by the Dawson’s Food Justice & Sustainability Hub in collaboration with community groups throughout Montreal.
How do I use the toolkit?
Read through the case studies to learn about the different strategies used by community groups in Montreal. All tools are available online. You are welcome to adapt the tools to your needs.
Who we are
Dawson’s Food Justice & Sustainability Hub is a team of researchers and faculty who are working with grassroots community organizations to build more resilient and equitable food systems in Montreal. Dr. Anna-Liisa Aunio, a Sociology professor at Dawson College and Concordia University, is the project Director.
Dawson’s Food Justice & Sustainability Hub specializes in three main areas of research and action:
- Connection: Data and information to support both activities and provide both researchers and community organizations with the information they need to plan, produce, and promote their work in transforming the food system towards just, sustainable, and healthy food options for all.
- Collaboration: events and initiatives to support sharing information, ideas, and perspectives among and between local initiatives in Montreal.
- Community-driven research: research by and for local communities to support their needs.
What we do
Building local capacity to improve local food systems is the heart of this multi-year initiative. Research topics are established by the community, research methods are developed with the community, research is carried out by the community and the results are shared with the community to develop and implement strategies for local food systems.
Between 2016 and 2020, the Dawson’s Food Justice & Sustainability Hub received two consecutive grants from SSHRC and NSERC (CCSIF) to conduct applied research on food justice with community partners using digital technologies. We also hosted events and educational workshops.
The ultimate result of this phase is a food map 2.0 and set of tools for assessing the local food landscape and the work of local food organizations. These tools were developed with neighbourhood-based community food groups.