As students, we understand the struggle of grocery shopping on a budget. Every grocery run becomes an ethical dilemma. We want to shop from local farmers, but accessibility is an issue. We want to opt-in for organic produce, but the prices add up. We want to support ethical grocery brands, but the greenwashing is honestly nauseating!
We were motivated to submit an essay to answer the question, ‘How can Canada provide nutritious, affordable food through a nature-positive agri-food system?’ because we saw an opportunity. Focusing on this essay gave us a chance to discuss solutions to the problems that most Canadians are facing. How is it that almost 6 million of us are facing food insecurities, but our grocery chains are reporting increased profits? Food banks are seeing 60% more Canadians per month using their services. There is a clear issue in Canada preventing residents from accessing nutritious, affordable food.
There is also a solution.
Our essay applies the framework of agroecology to identify opportunities in technology, education, and government to create a more sustainable food system. This progressive approach to farming harmonizes ecosystems and encourages environmentally and socially beneficial practices, all while enhancing the economic resilience of farming communities.
We discuss the destruction of oligopolies and the opportunities to invest in regenerative farming, local food distribution systems, and food labeling programs. Additionally, we propose an educational platform that can be accessed nationally to connect farmers to purpose-driven retailers. Finally, we emphasize the importance of policy. Introducing emissions caps and carbon pricing mechanisms can incentivize businesses to make better decisions for the planet and people.
Transforming the national food system is not a simple task, but it is a necessary one. From farm to plate, the agroecological framework addresses the entire value chain so that you don’t have to set aside your health and values to afford groceries.
About the winners
Rachel Feigenbaum is in the Master of Science in Digital Management program at Ivey. She completed her undergraduate degree at Western University in Media, Information, and Technoculture. Rachel has experience in marketing and graphic design and hopes to apply her talents to creating accessible and inclusive platforms that educate and connect individuals.
Kierra Cacciotti is in the final year of her dual degree in Media, Information, and Technoculture and Business, and is completing a Certificate of Sustainability at Ivey. She has experience with social sustainability consulting and impact marketing and hopes to one day add farming to the list. After spending time in South America on a food revolutions program, she has become more motivated to apply a global lens to tackling food sovereignty.
About the competition
The Ivey 100 Paper Competition gave Ivey students the opportunity to articulate a collective vision of our opportunities and responsibilities as business and community leaders. Through these papers and the discussions that they launch, the goal of this competition is in keeping with our purpose to ‘Inspire Leaders for a Sustainable and Prosperous World.’
The competition addressed four key questions related to the Critical Issues highlighted in the Ivey Next strategy: Sustainability, Evolution of Work, and Canada’s Place in the World. Each question will be featured in a breakout session at the Ivey 100 Symposium.
The questions were:
- What kind of leaders and leadership culture will Canada need in 2050, and what do we do now to develop those leaders and that culture?
2. How do we drive more successful start-ups in Canada?
3. How do we build the digital, social and physical infrastructure of 2050 for healthcare?
4. How can Canada provide nutritious, affordable food through a nature-positive agri-food system?
Rachel and Kierra answered question #4 and will present their solution to a room of senior leaders at the Ivey 100 Symposium. They will have the opportunity to hear the response of the sustainable agriculture session’s panelists (Peggy Brekveld, Brent Preston, Adrianne Lickers Xavier, and Emma Race) to their proposed solution. The students were also awarded $3000 in prize money.
Congratulations also go out to Soumyarup Dasgupta and Rounak Siraj whose essay won second place and $2000, and Marina Shi whose essay won third place and $1000.
Thank you to the panel of judges who assessed the student essays. This panel was comprised of Ryan D’Souza (current Ivey MBA student), Kiera Taylor (Ivey HBA '23), and faculty members Jury Gualandris, Nadine de Gannes, Lara Liboni, and Klaus Meyer.
