A
key focus for our work involves food and health, as we not only
recognize the significant influence of food systems on health,
we also recognize the many
parallels between the food and health movements. Each of these movements is anchored by a
systems worldview, is connected by humanistic values, highlights the
significance of place and identifies the importance of local decision
making and empowerment.
While
both these movements are independently actualizing their interconnected
movements into functional models, with a new lens we can see how
closely these movements are aligned. In so doing, we can purposefully
cross leverage approaches and thereby accelerate new model development
for the collective benefit of individual, community and planetary health
and well-being.
A
food commons encompasses all components of a local food system from
food to fork (or a significant enough portion, within a geographic
boundary, to comprise a functional system). As both a food commons and a
health commons are connected through defined place, they have the
unique opportunity to reinforce shared principles and values such as
cooperation, ownership, local decision making, equity, access,
relationship and transparency. As food production, distribution and
consumption are intimately linked to health through healthy eating,
socio-economic health, worker health and safety, healthy ecosystems and
communities, living wages and fair jobs, community empowerment, and
local control, empowerment and purpose, a food commons has an added
importance by functionally supporting and promoting the health and
well-being of a community within a broader health commons.