Richmond Bank Environmental Scan, Research Paper Example

Mission

Richmond food Bank strives to ensure food security by providing for all the people in the community with access to safe, nutritious, culturally appropriate and personally acceptable foods produced in ways that are socially just and environmentally friendly. The food bank seeks to help people make healthy choices supported by an equitable, affordable and sustainable food system that maximizes community cultural inclusion and self reliance. A food systems approach is used in environmental scan to explore issues related to food security (Sheehan, 2010). Food systems approach puts into consideration all aspects of human activity that contribute to the consumption, production, disposal, processing and distribution of food.

The following are the key components of a food system:

1. Production of animals and plants for food and related end products.
2. Processing animals and plants into food for human consumption.

Storage, transportation and marketing of food products to the end user.

1. Study of health and nutritional aspects of food products consumed by humans.
2. The subsystem of waste product from production through consumption and,
3. Educational implications of all of the above components to food security in terms of sufficient food supply for healthy living.

In Canada there are various concerns related to food insecurity. Chief among these are the vulnerable communities who suffer from symptoms associated with malnutrition. For instance, high risk pregnant women experiencing malnutrition (such as those who abuse drugs, teens or those experiencing poverty) pass the effects on to their children through lifelong health problems (i.e. chronic illness), low birth weight and infant mortality.

Children suffering from poor nutrition in early childhood may suffer from behavioral problems, reduced resistance to infection and cognitive damage. Isolated seniors who live in poverty are a concern and so are the people with mental health issues. Studies in Canada and the U.S. have shown a significant link between depressive disorders and chronic food insufficiency.

The consumption of high calorie foods that are poor in nutrients have also contributed to food insecurity. This increases the risk factors for obesity and other related health issues. In Canada, obese children and adults are three times more likely to have high blood pressure, two times more likely to have heart disease and four times more likely to have diabetes than those with healthy weights.

Diabetes and cardiovascular disease are chronic diseases that are closely linked to poor nutrition and food insecurity. In British Columbia during 2001, 18.5% of deaths were due to cardiovascular disease. A total of 133,000 people over the age of 12 in BC were victims of diabetes. Diabetes rates are three times those in the general population among the aborigines.

In BC and Canada, organic farming is an increasingly flourishing trend. In BC, 442 organic farmers have been certified. 18% of the 35 million liters of organic milk produced in Canada during the period 2004 to 2005 came from BC. 23% of organic meat birds and 49% of organic eggs were produced in BC. However, it is not possible to have a clear picture of consumer trends in BC due to a lack of mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods (Sheehan, 2010).

The City of Richmond has responded well to individual health concerns by having taken care of some key food security indicators. Statistics have revealed that Richmond residents have the longest life expectance in Canada. These residents live three years longer than the national average; they also have the lowest obesity and smoking rates.

References

Sheehan, R.M. (2010).Mission Impact: Breakthrough Strategies for Nonprofits. New York: John Wiley and Sons.