Exploring Local Food Systems: Collaborative Research with KFPC and Tapestry Collective Co-op.
In my role as a research assistant with the Kamloops Food Policy Council (KFPC), I supported the organization’s annual community survey in collaboration with Tapestry Collective Co-op. My initial responsibility was to support the development of survey questions by understanding the food system with the help of academic literature as well as grey literature. I was able to develop the survey, which was rolled out to the respondents for data collection. Out of our targeted sample size of 200, we were able to secure 122 responses in total. I was also involved in the promotion and outreach of the survey at the farmers’ market and the Kamloops Library. Considering my interest in the research, I was handed the responsibility of data analysis and report writing, which I was able to complete successfully within the given time frame.
Understanding Human Rights and Social Justice
During my placement at KFPC, there were a couple of opportunities where I was able to learn more about human rights and social justice issues. When I was analyzing responses from a survey on community access to food, statistics from the research helped me to understand how economic and geographical hurdles directly affect people’s ability to access healthy and affordable food. This also reminded me that food insecurity isn’t necessarily about individual choice; it is linked to larger structural injustice present in our society. Also, another learning came from the way KFPC was trying to make the food system regenerative, just through its various programs like GAP, Seed Library, and The Stir. During our periodic meetings, I noticed how these programs were established with equity as their cornerstone—whether by way of addressing affordability, reducing food waste, or honoring volunteers and donors. This led me to reflect on how local food movements are not simply an issue of providing resources but also of establishing systems that recognize food as a human right.
Similarly, I was able to learn from the way KFPC prioritized the voices from the community in which they operate, around the food system, and their program to gather insights about their program. KPFC’s approach of using people’s feedback for informed decision-making was a powerful example of participatory justice. It also deepened my understanding of the concept of self-determination in human rights contexts where resolution is derived from within the community, not imposed externally.
Reflection
Reflecting on my overall experience, I feel that if I had the chance, I would try to engage more in person with community members, perhaps through interviews or focus group discussions, rather than depending only on online surveys to obtain the data. I believe that in-person contact and communication with the respondents of the survey would have allowed me to connect more with the data I was dealing with. This practicum has helped me in many ways; first, it helped to build my confidence as a researcher. Although I had prior experience with research studies, I was never involved in the whole research cycle. Being involved in the whole cycle provided me with an opportunity to learn both the basics and the complexity of research. This experience has also helped me to understand the intersection of research, community, and social justice. I plan to expand on these skills and take every chance I get to be involved in research work both in and out of university.