Food security, food sovereignty, and the neoliberal food system in Saskatchewan

Disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to bring many local, regional, and global food systems to a standstill, as production capacity, supply chains, and distribution networks were all impacted. Researchers responded by documenting a wide range of consequences and reinforcing the importance of fostering food security based on local cultures. As the pandemic started to ease, we examined how cultural knowledge, stories, and other aspects of living heritage helped Canadian prairie producers and consumers navigate and recover from the crisis. As part of a larger Food, Culture, and Heritage project, we conducted a province-wide, anonymous survey that asked about food-related concerns in Saskatchewan, policies that might alleviate these concerns, and steps that could be taken to enhance the resilience of local food systems. Based on 168 responses, with 36 percent coming from rural or peri-urban areas, affordability was a major concern, especially because of rising food prices, low incomes, and transportation issues. The ability to access safe and healthy food was another top issue, partly because of a lack of rural grocery stores and the sensitivity of food-related supply chains. A third concern involved the loss of local knowledge, precipitated by an overreliance on imported and processed foods, limited time, and the effects of colonization. Overall, the results pointed to cultural norms and practices associated with neoliberalism, implying that localized principles aimed at food sovereignty are important for building a sustainable food system.