Food

Concerns about food insecurity and food sovereignty are being amplified by COVID-19. 

Access to nutritious food is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, and an adequate family income is the key element that ensures Saskatchewan residents can obtain appropriate food to meet their dietary needs. Household food insecurity in Saskatchewan is historically an issue of income inequality and poverty, which is exacerbated during the COVID-19 crisis.

Under normal circumstances, food insecurity affects around 13 percent of the SK population.

This means that 13 percent of SK residents do not have have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, culturally-appropriate and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs for an active and fulfilled life.

The COVID-19 crisis has amplified the deep inequities in our community.

This happens as unemployment levels rise and combine with emerging issues of access to food and increasing demand on community services. Without effective responses to the hardship created by COVID-19, the prevalence of food insecurity in Saskatchewan communities will rise, and health implications of being food-insecure will amplify. 

At the same time, food insecurity does not affect all Saskatchewan residents equally, and there are clear social patterns of vulnerability.

Evidence has shown us that racialized communities are disproportionately affected by food insecurity, as well as lone-parent families, women and children and the elderly. We have seen incredible acts of solidarity, innovation and compassion in the community responses to food insecurity in Saskatchewan. While we must address urgent food insecurity during the COVID-19 crisis, we must consider how we can channel energy to enact long-term systemic change.

We must address the urgent needs during the COVID-19 crisis. At the same time, we must consider: How do we channel energy to enact long-term systemic change?

“Poverty is already a very significant issue in our community and [COVID-19] really brought that to the forefront. It’s exacerbated that problem.”

– Dr. Rachel Engler-Stringer

Learn more

Latest Stats on Food Security

The latest report from PROOF on the status of Canadian food security.

Insights from Thought Leaders

Dr. Rachel Engler Stringer, Associate Professor in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology at the University of Saskatchewan explores the impacts to community food security during COVID-19 in Saskatchewan. Check out the full video podcast or explore her remarks to individual questions.

Key Insights from the Interview

View a list of key insights from Dr. Engler-Stringer’s interview.

Interview Transcript

Access a shortened version of the interview transcript.

Community Responses

Featured Food Resources

Organizations, researchers and individuals across Saskatchewan, Canada and the world are bringing their voices to the conversation about food during the COVID-19 crisis. From community food security to food systems approaches, immediate actions and long-term solutions, we’ve compiled articles, webinars, policy proposals, commentary and more in our resource library. Below are some of the newest or featured resources exploring food and COVID-19.

Explore more on Food & COVID-19 in the Resource Library