Planting Prosperity and
Harvesting Health:
Trade-offs and Sustainability in our
Regional Food System
May 12, 2011
April 25, 2008
Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies
Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning
College of Urban and Public Affairs
With support from
Lets move around first!
Credit: Federation of Organic Milk Groups
Why study food systems?
Food culture
Sustainability culture
Piecemeal policy, not informed
by data
Definitions
Assessment
Measure the trends of the region's food system
Region
Production chain in Oregon and Washington
Consumers in Portland-Vancouver area
Food System
Everything from production to consumption
Food System
Model
Assessment Methodological
Framework
Adaptive Learning
Combine:
• Community
knowledge
• Technical
expertise

Develop:
• Food System
Goals
• Indicators
Methodological Framework:
Adaptive learning model
Community knowledge +
Technical expertise

Food System Goals THEN
Indicators
Food System
Assessment Literature
Available Sources
of Reliable Data
Stakeholder Interviews
and Workshops
Assessment Starting Point
‘Sustainability’ means using, developing
and protecting resources in a manner
that enables people to meet current
needs and provides that future
generations can also meet future needs,
from the joint perspective of
environmental, economic and
community objectives. Oregon Statute
184.423, from the Sustainability Act of 2001
Goals: Outcome driven definition
Stakeholder Definitions of
Sustainability: Three themes
…To ensure
more people
have access to
nutritious
food…”
Health advocate
“…11 young
families in
21 years
coming
back to
ranch…”
Rancher
“We want to create
economically viable farms,
that’s the starting point…”
“A sustainable food
system is one that is
capable of providing the
same or greater amount
of food for generations
without creating
unmitigated adverse
externalities
land use advocate
Processor
Core Values
Health
Interconnection
Equity
Community
Prosperity
Viability
Livability
Resiliency
Ownership
Stakeholder-Defined Goals
Resource Stewardship
Economic Prosperity and Diversity
Food Access
Food Choices Support Personal & Community Health
Regional Market Expansion & Infrastructure Support
Agriculture Land-Base Maintenance
Opportunity and Justice for All Food Workers
Resiliency
Food Choices Restore Cross-System Respect
Key Constrained Resources
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



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

Land
Water
Energy
Human Capital
Financial Capital
Consumer Choice and Buying Power
Knowledge
Influence
Social Capital
What do we know ?
What don’t we know?
Courtesy of Dancing Roots Farm
“A goal without a plan is just a
wish”
- Antoine de Sain-Exupery
IMS Community Garden
map
Growing a sustainable
metropolitan food
shed
Planting Prosperity and
Harvesting Health:
Trade-offs and Sustainability in our
Regional Food System
May 12, 2011
April 25, 2008
Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies
Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning
College of Urban and Public Affairs
With support from