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Headshot of Lauren Baker

Lauren Baker PhD

Certificate Instructor and Associate Researcher
DepartmentFood Systems Consultant
http://www.laurenbaker.ca

Instructor for: CFNY 408 Urban Food Security (opens in new window) , CVFN 410 Understanding Urban Agriculture (opens in new window) , CVFN 413 Urban Agriculture Policy-Making (opens in new window) 


Lauren Baker, PhD, has over 20 years of experience working on food systems issues. Her experience ranges from researching agricultural biodiversity in Mexico to negotiating and developing municipal food policy and programs. Lauren has consulted on farm to fork initiatives and food systems policy development across Canada and globally.

Lauren currently works as a consultant with the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, supporting their strategic initiatives and programs. Previously, Lauren was a Food Policy Specialist with the Toronto Food Policy Council, leading a citizen advisory group embedded within the City of Toronto’s Public Health Division. Lauren teaches at the University of Toronto and Ryerson University. She is the author of Corn meets Maize: Food Movements and Markets in Mexico (2013).

Lauren’s expertise lies in sustainable food systems, food systems policy, food security, city-region food policy and planning. Lauren has worked with diverse clients to develop strategic plans, feasibility studies, undertake research, program planning and evaluation, and advise on policy development.

Select Publications

Baker, L. (2016). Food Asset Mapping in Toronto and Greater Golden Horseshoe Region. in Nan, S. et al (eds.) Envisioning Future Cities: Ideas and Examples. ISOCARP Review 12. ISOCARP.

Baker, L. & H. de Zeeuw. (2015). Urban Food Policies and Programs: An Overview in H. de Zeeuw and P. Dreschel (eds). Cities and Agriculture: Developing Resilient Urban Food Systems. Routledge.

Baker, L. (2015). L’expansion de l’agriculture urbaine a Toronto: une collaboration entre la ville et la communaute des habitants. In POUR: Agriculture/Monde rural 224: 397-404.

Baker, L., Mah, C. et al. (2013). The Toronto Food Policy Council and the Toronto Food Strategy: Focusing on Food Systems and Health at the City-Region Level. Changing Food Systems for Better Nutrition, SNC News No 40. United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition.

Baker, L. & Mah, C. (2012). The Toronto Food Policy Council: Twenty Years of Citizen Leadership for a Healthy, Equitable, and Sustainable Food System. CIHR’s Citizen Engagement in Health Casebook. Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Updated January 2018