Circumpolar Northern Food Systems in a Changing World
In the Circumpolar North, farming is generally limited due to its cold climate and short growing season. However, these trends may change. Due to climate change, these northern regions are warming at an accelerated rate, raising questions about future changes to land and water use patterns. In particular, these impacts are likely to increase the agricultural productivity of the North American Arctic, which includes Alaska and northern Canada. However, while opportunities grow for agriculture, aquaculture is under threat. Current impacts are seen through AK’s canceled snow crab season and Nova Scotia’s lobster flocking to colder temperatures. For many Alaskan and Canadian fishermen, the fishing industry is their livelihood and a source of food and economic security. We must transform our food system, and it takes all of us to “push the needle.” I think of adrienne marie brown when I say that changemakers in the food system should focus on “inch wide mile deep” work. Our parts will and must be small, because no one individual can solve the myriad of wicked problems we face. The stories featured in this project aim to draw a light on the critical work those in agriculture and aquaculture are doing to improve their local food systems in Alaska and northern Canada. Full project here.
About Lunia: Born and raised in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley of Southcentral Alaska, Lunia E. Oriol is now based in Michigan receiving her Master of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Michigan. Her research and practice focuses on improving the usability of climate information for planning and decision-making for climate change adaptation and food systems. As a Transformative Food Systems Fellow, she is passionate about co-creating responsible and innovative strategies with communities to transforming the global food system, particularly in the circumpolar North. She aims to become an activist-practitioner working at the intersection of climate, food systems planning, and local community resilience.
Contact: [email protected]
