Members of the Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy (TAFSA) believe there are important lessons to be learned from the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security, and they're calling on service agencies, businesses and government to work together to improve the situation in the future. "This is a real moment, potentially even a turning point," said Charles Levkoe, an executive member of the TAFSA, and the Canada Research Chair in Food Sustainability at Lakehead University. He noted that the COVID-19 crisis has exposed "an incredible risk in our food system and a lack of resilience""In Thunder Bay, we're really dependent on a lot of imports from outside the city, this 'just in time' food system and these long supply chains dominated primarily by large companies make our food system very fragile." The global pandemic may lead to additional supply shortages, higher food prices, and a widening gap between those with economic means, low-income wage earners and those living in poverty, Levkoe suggested. The TAFSA executive committee includes representative from Roots to Harvest, Brule Creek Farms, EcoSuperior, Lakehead University, Indigenous Food Circle, Community Economic Development Commission, City of Thunder Bay, Northwestern Ontario Women's Centre, Oliver Paipoonge council, Bare Organics and the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.

Source: CBC News April 18, 2020 15:00 UTC