In reponse to what the United Nations has termed a world food 'crisis,' Canada's World is gathering Canadians together to talk about our role in the global food chain. In Vancouver and Toronto we've held large public dialogue events, and we'd love to organize something in your town. Email our Community Outreach Coordinator Elodie Jacquet at elodie@canadasworld.ca, or check out our Kitchen Roundtable Guide for instructions on hosting a conversation in your own home.

Follow the links to get more informed about the food chain and your role in it.

Background

World Food Situation - An overview of the world food situation from the Food and Agricultural Organization.

CBC In Depth: A Hungry Planet - Includes a Question and Answer with Raj Patel, author of Stuffed and Starved.

Food price crisis - A BBC Special Report feature about the cost of food. A great source of information on the what and why of rising prices.

Livestock's Long Shadow - A report by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations on the global impact of livestock production. Calls global livestock production "one of the major causes of the world's most pressing environmental problems".

Bioenergy

BBC Quick Guide to Biofuels - What is a biofuel, anyways? Find out here.

Canadian Renewable Fuels Association's FAQ on Ethanol - Answers to frequently asked questions about ethanol. There's also an FAQ on biodiesel.

AgriSuccess article on the biofuel revolution - Discusses the benefits biofuel production has brought to farmers.

The David Suzuki Foundation on biofuels - They may not be all that green, according to Dr. Suzuki.

The United Nations on biofuels - As the BBC explains, the cross-agency body UN Energy produced a report one year ago warning of the impact biofuels could have on food prices. The report received significant media coverage. The Food and Agricultural Assocation of the UN is also holding a conference in June on the  world food crisis entitled: The Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy. Check back here or on our blog for more information about the outcome of the conference.

The Canadian government on biofuels - The government has a four-part strategy on alternative energies, which includes support to farmers to grow crops for biofuels through the Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative, and the ecoAGRICULTURE Biofuels Capital Initiative.

Climate change

BBC Article predicts impact of climate change on food - Back in 2005.

Climate change key to the food crisis - According to the Economic Times of India.

Economics and aid

Food crisis is a chance to reform global agriculture - From the Financial Times Economists' Forum.

CIDA's response to the UN's call for increased food aid.

Local Action - Vancouver

If you're in Vancouver, get involved with some of the amazing local organizations that took part in our event. If you're in another city, we'd love to know about great organizations there, and feature them here on our website. Email us at info@canadasworld.ca.

Food Miles: Environmental Implications of Food Imports to the Waterloo Region: A report on the distance travelled of 58 commonly eaten foods that could have been grown locally, and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their transportation.

LifeCycles Good Food Directory - An amazing site is designed to connect you with great tasting, nutritious locally-produced food on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, British Columbia.

Small Potatos Urban Delivery (SPUD) - Founded by our opening speaker David Van Seters, SPUD offers organic grocery delivery in Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island and Calgary.

The Adaptation to Climate Change Team - is a policy planning initiative from SFU designed to develop timely options for sustainable adaptation to climate change impacts. ACT will study eight key climate change-related areas and consider ways to protect Canadian environmental, economic and social wellbeing throughout its four-year program. Contact Program Director Deborah Harford for more information on getting involved.

Centre for Sustainable Community Development at SFU - The Centre's mission is to support the sustainable development of communities through research, education and community mobilization.

Check Your Head - One of the co-organizers of Food for Talk, Check Your Head is a youth driven organization located in Vancouver. CYH educates young people on global issues, by looking at the connection between global events and issues and local realities.

The Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at the UBC Farm - The UBC Farm is a 24 hectare learning and research farm located on the University of British Columbia's Campus in Vancouver, Canada. The farm is student-driven and integrated with the wider community, and frequently runs volunteer orientations.

City of Vancouver's Food Policy Pages - Contains an overview of project and activities engaged in by the Food Policy team and Vancouver Food Policy Council.

For anyone looking to start an anti-poverty and food sovereignty movement, contact anti-poverty activist Clark Levyleh at striveforexcellence@gmail.com.

Get informed, then share your thoughts in our conversation forums or on Facebook.