October 28, 2021 – Online
Arrell Food Summit 2021
On October 28th, Arrell Food Institute hosted the 4th Arrell Food Summit, the second hosted digitally. Welcoming over 350 attendees, the Summit featured an agenda of international speakers who explored how to turn ideas into action and accelerate food systems change. Chefs Rich Francis and Joshna Maharaj encouraged participants to use food as a tool to shake up colonial and unhealthy institutions, while Maple Leaf Food’s Nadia Theodore shared how to bridge gaps between government, industry, and others on progressive food policy.
Turning Ideas into Action
The Arrell Food Summit team has collaborated with illustrator and information designer Alex Sawatzky, who created visual summaries of each 2021 Summit session. We are delighted to offer these illustrations to all Summit participants, available for viewing and download. We hope you enjoy these visual reminders of your Summit experience!
“You asked me, what should we do? Bring in the communities! Learn from them, co-create the solutions. Have community members sitting at all levels of the food system!”
Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted, Global Lead for Nutrition and Public Health, WorldFish
Featuring Dr. Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted, Global Lead for Nutrition and Public health, World Fish and 2021 World Food Prize Winner.
Transforming Food: Advancing Livelihoods
Key Actions from this discussion:
- Bring women and communities together and learn from them to co-create solutions at all levels
- Shift the focus on feeding to nourishing – nourishing considers the diversity of foods, people who eat it and increases the value we put on foods
- Don’t give up. Seek out mentors. Spend time in the community and ask the community about their knowledge. This will enrich your relationships.
Featuring Joshua Smee, Julia Romagnoli, Raul Fernandez, and Haile Thomas
The Changemakers’ Forum
In this session, speakers shared their tips to create change in the food system. Their advice included dreaming big, collaborating with like-minded people and organizations, using stories as catalysts for change and empowering the people around you.
Nadia Theodore, Senior Vice President, Global Government and Industry Relations, Maple Leaf Foods
Enriching Food Networks
This session explored how government and industry influence each other and how the two can work together to shape public policy. Rather than thinking that each group is on an opposite side or in competition against one another, we need to build relationships and focus on collaboration. By working together and breaking down that industry and government are two entities, it is possible to learn from each other. Momentum will always be stronger when there is more than one.
Featuring Chefs Rich Francis and Bertha Skye
Enhancing Communities: Decolonization through Food
Featuring Chef Joshna Maharaj and Dr. Jess Haines
Putting Your Values on Your Plate
While building a school lunch featuring sweet potato tacos, Dr. Jess Haines and Chef Joshna Maharaj discuss institutional food programs. Chef Joshna advocates for the need to change our values towards institutional food. Care and attention should be put into how food is grown and cooked. It is possible for institutional food to be wholesome, affordable and delicious. Plus it can also be used to increase health and wellness, educate and rehabilitate.