BMO has committed $1 million to the Simpson Centre for Food and Agricultural Policy at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy to lead a new program to change how society perceives and interacts with the food system.
The Simpson Centre says the program, Ag Literacy for Healthier People and Planet, will help build understanding about the complexities of the agricultural system in a world where the food we eat plays a crucial role in both our health and the health of our planet.
A total of 13 universities across Canada and Stanford University in the U.S. will conduct outreach and research on food systems over a period of approximately five years, and will “foster a deeper understanding of the food choices we make and inform the design of agricultural policies.”
Guillaume Lhermie, director of the Simpson Centre says the program is designed to reach a range of audiences, including formal stakeholders such as research, industry, and government, as well as informal audiences such as consumers and citizens.
“We are particularly focused on engaging young adults and teenagers who are active on social media and eager to participate in shaping the future of food systems,” says Lhermie.
The program will deliver a variety of written, digital resources to educate the public on controversial issues in the food system like the use of GMO, pesticides, and food labels, also surveying consumer knowledge, and actively engaging with citizens.
“BMO is a proud partner of Ag Literacy for Healthier People and Planet to help broaden the understanding and importance of sustainable innovation within the agricultural food system and how our communities interact with it,” said Helen Seibel, head of employee and community giving for BMO.
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