Transitioning Community Food Systems for Sustainability and a Proposed Caledon Community Food Plan to Foster a Successful Resilient Local Food Economy

Communities have become a promising place to work sustainability transitions. As the world has become increasing complex, it is no longer possible to use linear thinking to deal with the massive problems facing us. From hunger to obesity to poverty to climate change and inequality, the food system connects us all and it is a productive place to work on these issues. Community food systems are ripe for transition. While the local level has the fewest policy tools and financial levers for change, it is where people are engaged and willing to work on issues that affect them most. This project explores the theoretical, conceptual lessons form systems thinking and dynamics, complexity science, sustainability transition frameworks and community building. The lessons are further enhanced with lessons from the field. The theoretical and practical foundations are triangulated to develop new transition tools for community food systems to transition to sustainability. These transition tools linked to form a transition pathway for community food systems. Then, using the real life case example of Caledon Ontario, a proposed start at using these tools is investigated and formulated as a way to engage the municipality, business and others in this work.