NN21 Food Systems Inventory
(11/30/98)
"... meet the needs of the present without compromising
the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
The World Commission of Environment and Development,
1987
Table of Contents
Introduction
Food Systems Inventory
This questionnaire serves a guideline for gathering information
that will produce a community inventory. First, you are asked
to define your area of study, how many people live there and how
many people are directly involved in food related activities.
Then you are asked to gather information about the food system
in your area. Important: please keep a record of your sources
of information.
This questionnaire is organized according to five components of
the food system: production, processing, distribution, consumption,
and waste management.
Some of the information in each part relates to information in
the other parts. The food that is available in your community,
for example, will be a function of both production and distribution
networks. The relationships between the parts show that the parts
function together as a system.
Food Systems and Community
The inventory is a tool to help communities look for ways to become
more sustainable; first, by identifying issues of concern, then
by considering options. Options which are more sustainable are
those that protect the natural environment while providing opportunity
for economic growth and community development.
The food system is part of a larger context but it serves as a
useful starting point for understanding sustainability issues.
It will be helpful for students to learn about the concept of
sustainability before conducting this inventory. When the inventory
results are compiled they will be examined with the goal of creating
a more sustainable community.
Communities of Learning
The inventory will be conducted by teachers and students in the
School at the Center program who are learning through community
involvement. The same inventory will be conducted in more than
one community so that communities can share their experiences
with others.
This Food Systems Inventory was developed by the NN21 Action Team
for Sustainable Communities in collaboration with participating
teachers of the School at the Center. Support for this project
is provided by the Kellogg Foundation through the Nebraska Network
21, changing the way Nebraskans will learn in the 21st Century.
