Episode 165: Roots of Change: Cultivating Food Equity and Community Resilience
About the Podcast
Join us on “Roots of Change” as we dive into the world of urban agriculture and food equity. In this episode, Henry shares his insights on transforming vacant lots into thriving community gardens, the importance of culturally appropriate food, and the challenges marginalized communities face in accessing nutritious food. Discover inspiring stories, innovative solutions, and practical advice for fostering food dignity and resilience in our cities. Don’t miss this empowering conversation on creating sustainable, inclusive food systems!
About Henry Gordon-Smith
Henry Gordon-Smith is a sustainability strategist focused on urban agriculture, water issues, and emerging technologies. Henry earned his BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, coursework in Food Security and Urban Agriculture from Ryerson University in Toronto, and an MSc in Sustainability Management from Columbia University. In 2014, Henry responded to a global need for technology-agnostic guidance on urban agriculture by launching the advisory firm Agritecture Consulting which has now consulted on over 250 urban agriculture projects in over 40 countries.
Discussion Takeaways
- The environmental security of water works led Henry to research the topic in more detail, understand the climate crisis, and understand the relationship between food and water.
- Urban agriculture is under-estimated. It is not seen as profitable or scalable in food security.
- When the blockade of Russian imports of fertilizers and seeds in Cuba, they have no food security anymore. What they do is encourage organic rooftop and urban agriculture. Cuba became food independent through urban agriculture.
- Solutions must be developed from the bottom up. It must focus on education, empowerment, and listening to help communities design their future.
- Urban farms provide a fun, educational way for people to see what healthy and organic food means.
- Photovoice is a process where you give people cameras and let them take pictures of their community. You allow them to observe their community qualitatively.
- Urban agriculture includes the processing and distribution of food in the city. The community garden is like a business model form of agriculture.
#1 tip to improve access to healthy food
Our underinvestment in urban agriculture decreases societal resilience, especially as younger generations, proficient with technology but unfamiliar with basic agricultural practices, drift further from these essential skills.
Each week on the Food Dignity® Podcast, the Food Dignity® Movement's Clancy Harrison hosts a wide variety of hunger experts and other people making changes on the frontlines. Join us as we dive deep into conversations that will change the way you think about food insecurity.
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