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About us

Established at Toronto Metropolitan University in 1994, the Centre for Studies in Food Security (CSFS) works to promote food security through research, dissemination, education, community action, and professional practice.

We take an interdisciplinary and systemic approach to social justice, environmental sustainability, health, and socio-cultural aspects of food security. The Centre shares information and facilitates dialogue among civil society organizations, universities, and governments through seminars and workshops, our web site, and associated mailing lists.

We host national and international conferences and engage with food security initiatives at local, regional and global levels.

Upcoming Events

In the news

fresh market beans in stacked baskets

Projects

Explore the latest projects are research associates are working on in Food Security.

People standing in urban farm field

Our people

We are pleased to showcase our dedicated team in Food Security.

Group gathered around produce in garden setting

Certificate in Food Security

Learn about sustainable food systems through a social justice lens to ensure that safe, nutritious foods are available to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status.

Two women harvesting lettuce from an urban garden

Certificate in Urban Agriculture

New for Fall 2020, the certificate explores the growing field of urban agriculture and its contribution to sustainable cities of the future.

The Five A’s of Food Security

Availability: Sufficient food for all people at all times.

Accessibility: Physical and economic access to food for all at all times.

Adequacy: Access to food that is nutritious and safe, and produced in environmentally sustainable ways.

Acceptability: Access to culturally acceptable food, which is produced and obtained in ways that do not compromise people’s dignity, self-respect or human rights.

Agency: The policies and processes that enable the achievement of food security.

"Food Security is the condition in which all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life."

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations