Thank you for your interest in our urban agriculture educational programs! We are currently working the curriculum for the upcoming growing season.
If you would like to add yourself to the waitlist or to receive a heads up when registration is open please fill out the contact form.
Please note the upcoming course information will differ from the information that is currently on our website (see below) as we are constantly striving to improve our programming.
This reading group will be a place where participants can learn and have important group conversations about issues with the global food system and tangible solutions.
Erik Chevrier, Ph.D., will guide group conversations with participants interested in critical perspectives in food studies. The group will meet biweekly between in May and August. The schedule and readings will be determined by participants at the first meeting in May.
Topics include: food sovereignty, food systems, food justice, food security, permaculture, agroecology, community food systems, social economy approaches to urban farming, global food issues, and more.
The global food system is not ecologically sustainable, socially just, or economically viable. Fortunately, there are many examples of how to build food sovereign communities. This reading group will explore issues related to the food system including:
Food insecurity – there are over 800 million people starving in the world today!
Lack of food sovereignty – peasants and farmers are being affected by trade agreements and food dumping!
Genetic modification process and health – epigenetics matter!
Use of chemical herbicides – glyphosates are being identified as cancer causing!
Privatization – restricted access to seeds, land and equipment!
Cost on farmers – family farms are not viable!
Cost on farm workers – farmers are often exploited, especially migrant labourers!
Reduction of biodiversity – we are destroying nature!
Unwanted genetics spreading onto non-GMO farms – farmers face lawsuits!
Loss of Indigenous farming methods – on stolen land!
Loss of soil arability – we are killing our soil!
Chemical pesticides are killing pollinators – fruits need bees!
We are producing too much synthetic nitrogen and phosphorus – our waters are developing ‘dead zones’!
Corporate concentration of agribusinesses – former war chemical companies are now food and seed companies!
Health – our food contains toxins!
Foundations on structural racism, colonialism and patriarchy – glaring systemic issues!
Rising cost of seed and chemicals – we don’t need to buy seeds!
Research funding being directed to GMOs instead of traditional breeding methods – ‘science’ is not only about GMOs!
Pest and weed resistance to Bt crops and glyphosate!
Agriculture is a significant contributor to GHG production – agroecology can help sequester carbons instead!
Fortunately, here are ways to address these issues through food sovereignty and food justice frameworks. This reading group will explore solution based approaches to build transformational food systems that serve communities instead of large multinational corporations.
Check out the video below by Erik Chevrier, Ph.D. explaining issues with the global food system and potential solutions.
First Meeting will be Determined Soon
At the first meeting will be determined soon, participants will choose the dates, times of the future meetings and focus of the readings.
LOCATION: Loyola Farm – At Concordia University in NDG
COST: By donation.
Participants registered to the Urban Agriculture Certificate program will participate in at least four of eight reading group discussions. Anyone else can also register and participate in critical perspectives in food studies reading discussions.
It is important to us that our programming is accessible to the community but also believe in compensating our workers at fair wages. For this program you can contribute as much or as little as you wish.
Erik Chevrier has been a driver of sustainable food systems at Concordia University as a part-time professor, activist and student.
As a part-time professor, Erik had taught Food and Culture and Food and Sustainability, and provided his students with opportunities for hands-on learning and critical-participatory-action-research. He enables his students to learn by doing and empowers them to become community leaders, urban farmers, and sustainability activists. With a strong interest in the political economy of ethical food systems, Erik has meticulously chronicled Concordia’s student-run food cooperatives through his PhD in Humanities. His community involvement in sustainability at Concordia includes the Concordia Food Coalition, Divest Concordia, the Hive Café Co-op, and more. He has also founded a number of organizations, research projects and educational programs, including the non-profit solidarity urban farming cooperative CultivAction.
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