Starting Premise: Digital tech holds lots of potential to help transform food systems Build diverse economies (peer to peer, crowdsourcing, reputational & exchange systems) Build and strengthen networks (market & movement) Raise profiles & awareness Create & share information & data Organize communities & campaigns Influence policy Shape public opinion And of course - sell green & fair food

BUT - Digital tech remains underutilized Primarily being used for ‘one to many’ communication Website info sharing E-mails & e-Newsletters Blogs Some ‘peer to peer’ sharing (on-line communities) Some e-commerce

We know there is a gap 1 in 3 community food initiatives in Canada, as well as in the US list ICT and digital tech as a leading challenge

OFN-Canada talked with 143 sustainable food initiatives/organizations in Ontario We asked about their ‘dreams and fears’: How is/might the ‘internet revolution’ be shaping sustainable food?

Diverse Themes depending on the types of stakeholders For profit-based firms – logistics & e-commerce solutions Justice & Ecologically focused - want to connect for bigger impact Small scale farms/firms – worry they’ll just be further marginalized or co-opted Diverse/indigenous groups – worry it will worsen existing injustice Consumers – tools for transparency and engagement

Things OFN-CAN could help with… Knowledge Mobilization & Skill Building Primarily peer-to-peer Changing ‘consumer’ – ‘producer’ roles New ‘prosumer’ roles – greater engagement Joining Up for Greater Impact Flatter networked relations in ‘market’ and ‘movement’ “Stay small & get connected” vs “Go big or get out” Food Justice & Transformative Change Equity & inclusion vs Worsen inequities & exclusion

Need to build a vision for OFN – ‘beyond the market’ Working in collaboration to use the ‘market’ and ‘movement’ for transformation E-commerce & Logistics Platform Portal to Digital Activism Because we can’t change the world just by shopping. Help ‘consumers’ join producers in food system transformation Join together ‘the many and the small’ For efficient market access

OFN E-commerce/Logistics Platform Ecological producers who want to sell sell in local markets (bulk or retail) Ethical and ecologically aware eaters who want to create their own food systems Platform is a set of diverse tools to connect these two groups in new kinds of ways. In addition to its current tools, the OFN platform needs: easier ways for small scale suppliers to sell on-line (set up wizard?) tools that make shipping/delivery of goods easier – shares the burden of ‘delivery’ (crowd sourcing delivery?) enhancements for ‘other than capitalist’ markets (ie non monetary exchange & barter) Tools for promotion & communication – recruit new participants, help feeders & eaters find each other, map improvements

OFN Portal to Food Activism Offers access to open source tools for OFN (and non-OFN) suppliers & eaters to create and/or participate in petitions, campaigns, protests etc. for food system transformation. Offers producers and consumers opportunities for food citizenship. Helps to ‘join up’ food justice and ecological justice movements in the global North and South Imagine https://www.change.org/ for food system transformation (maybe we partner with them ?)