Food, Learning and Growing (FLOW) Partnership

Thursday November 20, 2025 

Webinar Recording 

The Telling Regional Stories: Place-Based Food System Change webinar brought together FLOW regional teams from Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver Island, and Melbourne to share their experiences advancing food system transformation at the regional scale. Featuring insights from Anne Palmer of Johns Hopkins University, the discussion explored the opportunities, challenges, and policy approaches shaping equitable and resilient regional food systems. This cross-regional exchange offered practical strategies and inspiration for those working toward sustainable, place-based food system change. 

Speakers: 

Dr. Rachel Carey is a Senior Lecturer in Food Systems in the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences (SAFES) at the University of Melbourne, where her teaching and research focuses on resilient and sustainable food systems, food policy and food security. One of Rachel’s key research interests is the resilience and sustainability of city food systems  in the face of growing challenges from climate change, pandemic, population growth, urban sprawl and from declining supplies of natural resources, such as land and water. As part of the FLOW Partnership, Rachel leads the Foodprint Melbourne research project, which is investigating approaches to strengthen the resilience of Melbourne’s food system to shocks and stresses and the role of Melbourne’s foodbowl in increasing the resilience of the city’s food supply. 

Dr. Maureen Murphy is a Research Fellow in the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences at the University of Melbourne, with a focus on the resilience of food systems. Maureen is part of the Foodprint Melbourne project, which is investigating the resilience of Victoria’s food system to climate and other shocks and stresses. Her PhD research, ‘Local food environments for a healthy equitable city: evidence to inform urban planning policy and governance in Melbourne, Australia’ contributed to the research program of the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy Liveable Communities. Maureen’s work in the FLOW Partnership aims to foster regional level collaboration between key stakeholders and local governments in Melbourne’s city region to build resilient food systems. 

Anna-Liisa Aunio’s research over the past several years focuses on understanding the sociological drivers of environmental issues, particularly in relation to climate change and food systems.  She is currently the Principal Investigator for Food Research and Action Montreal (FRAM) at Dawson College, which focuses on analyzing the food system for Montreal’s 33 boroughs, providing research support to community food organizations, and assessing residents’ needs and challenges in accessing food security programmes. With the FLOW Partnership, Anna-Liisa is working towards a food system that is healthy, diverse, local, affordable, and sustainable for all, through the mobilising and amplifying work of food system stakeholders. 

Anne Marie Aubert has over 12 years of experience in federal politics and citizen mobilization, making her a unifying leader with strong skills in organizational development and public policy. Convinced that Montreal can become a leader in the food transition, she has dedicated herself to this mission in her coordination role at Montréal – Métropole en santé (Montreal – Healthy Metropolis) and the Système Alimentaire Montréalais (Montreal Food Policy) Council since August 2018. Through the FLOW Partnership, Anne Marie offers mobilization partners support and guidance in carrying out their initiatives. By acting at the municipal level, Anne Marie is delighted to see the impact of the MMS team’s collective work on the daily lives of her fellow citizens and her own. 

Kent Mullinix is Director of Institute for Sustainable Food Systems (ISFS) at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and is engaged in research and development to advance ecologically sound agriculture and robust regional food systems. Additionally, he is an Adjunct Professor in The Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia and serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development. Through the FLOW Partnership, the ISFS is modeling the food self-reliance and economic development potential for a Vancouver Island bioregion food system and is bringing together key food system actors from across the Vancouver Island bioregion to collaboratively prioritize actions and inform regional food system resilience planning and development. 

Moe Garahan has been working on food and farming issues since 1995.  Focused on community development and community economic development approaches, she has facilitated the establishment of many ongoing community and regional food initiatives, (including Just Food) while supporting provincial and coast-to-coast-to-coast food systems change (presently as Board Director at Sustain and Partnership Coordinator of Food Communities Network and Common Ground Network).  Since 2004, she has been the Executive Director of Just Food, working with teams to integrate food access and food localism within the mixed urban and rural settings of the Algonquin/Ottawa region. Through the FLOW Partnership, Moe is focusing on Community Farms, Community Gardening, Agroecological on-farm practices, Ottawa Food Strategy, and digital storytelling. 

Patricia Ballamingie is a Professor at Carleton University, cross-appointed in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies and the Institute of Political Economy. Her research interests have included: environmental conflict and democracy; community-campus engagement; and, for over a decade, food policy and food systems governance. As an engaged scholar and action researcher, Dr. Ballamingie served as a founding Board Member of Just Food in Ottawa, Ontario, putting into practice her commitment to building just and sustainable food systems. She is actively involved in several SSHRC-funded research projects on regional food systems transformation, participatory food systems governance, safe and affordable housing, and Indigenous food sovereignty. She sits on the Advisory Board of Dr. Alison Blay-Palmer’s UNESCO Chair on Food, Biodiversity and Sustainability Studies. 

Anne Palmer is an Associate Scientist in the Department of Health, Behavior, and Society and the Director of Practice at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future. She contributes to the Food Policy Networks project, which seeks to improve the capacity of food policy councils and similar groups to advance food system policies at the state, local, regional and tribal level. Her research interests include the role of food retail in public health, food system governance and equity, and community food systems. Prior to working at CLF, she spent 13 years designing, developing and executing public health communication campaigns in Asia. 

Thursday October 9, 2025 

Webinar Recording 

The Agroecology in Action: Stories of Resilient Food Systems webinar gathered FLOW researchers and practitioners from Mexico, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Canada’s Northwest Territories to share how agroecology is driving regional food system transformation. The session highlighted how shared enablers, such as Indigenous knowledge, participatory governance, and supportive policy, strengthen resilience globally. Liesa Nieskens, advisor with the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), further connected insights across regions, emphasizing agroecology’s role as a cornerstone for equitable and sustainable food systems. 

Speakers: 

Laura Gómez Tovar is an engineer in agroecology from the Universidad Autónoma Chapingo. She holds a Master’s degree in Science, Society and Technology, with a specialization in Innovation Systems and Ecological and Social Change, from Roskilde University and Aalborg University in Denmark. She is a researcher and professor in the Department of Agroecology at the Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, as well as a founding researcher of the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Integral Rural Development (CIIDRI). Laura helped establish Chapingo’s Organic Local Market (Tianguis Orgánico Chapingo) and the Mexican Network of Local Organic Markets, both important platforms supporting sustainable agriculture and local economies. Laura is currently collaborating with farmers, researchers, and community leaders in Veracruz State, Mexico to gradually scale up agroecology, prioritizing community-based economies, social justice, health and well-being, and network-based knowledge-sharing. 

Chatura Pulasinghage is a PhD candidate in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, with research focused on food system transformation in Sri Lanka. His work explores the role of agroecology networks, champion farmers, and policymakers in building more resilient and sustainable food systems. Chatura completed his Master’s in Food, Agriculture and Resource Economics at the University of Guelph and brings over 20 years of experience as an agricultural policy advocate, working with the United Nations, World Bank, European Union, and Sri Lanka’s Ministries of Agriculture and Finance. Through the FLOW Partnership, Chatura shares perspectives on the evolution of agroecology in Sri Lanka and the strategies that can enable its wider adoption. 

Dr. Samuel Gudu is a Professor of Genetics and Plant Breeding at Rongo University, Kenya.  He earned his PhD degree in Plant Genetics & Molecular Biology from the University of Guelph, and holds a Masters degree in Genetics & Plant Breeding from the University of Nairobi.  He has over thirty years of experience in university leadership, part of which, as Vice-Chancellor at Rongo University; Principal at Rongo University College; and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Director of Research, and Acting Dean at Moi University. An active researcher, he has participated in regional and international research consortia with universities in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Brazil, USA, Sweden, China and Kenya. He is a co-investigator of the FLOW Partnership where he leads the work in Migori County, Kenya to promote climate-resilient agricultural practices through farmer organizations and agricultural knowledge-sharing. 

Dr. Jennifer Temmer (she/her) is a recent PhD graduate and research associate with the Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at Wilfrid Laurier University. Her PhD research developed a Community Agroecological Values Framework (CAVF) in partnership with the Ka’a’gee Tu First Nation in the Northwest Territories, Canada, to support the communities goals toward Indigenous food sovereignty and well-being.  With a background in international development, rural planning, and agricultural business management, she has collaborated on sustainable food projects across Latin America and Northern Manitoba. Using a Participatory Action Research approach, her work emphasizes integrating Indigenous worldviews into food systems planning, centering community values that support healthy people and Land. 

Liesa Nieskens is an advisor with the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) project on Resilient Rural Areas, where she focuses on agroecology and the synergetic implementation of the Rio Conventions on land, climate, and biodiversity. Previously, she worked with GIZ India, leading projects on agroecology, biodiversity, and rural development, while also co-leading a global initiative on food systems transformation. As discussant, she’ll share her unique insights on connecting land, climate, and biodiversity to inspire a deeper conversation. 

Thursday September 18, 2025 

Webinar Recording 

The Power and Resistance in Regional Food Systems: Stories of Change webinar showcased how communities across the world are resisting industrial agriculture through agroecological and culturally grounded practices. Featuring FLOW stories from Veracruz State (Mexico), the Northwest Territories (Canada), Andhra Pradesh (India), and Southern Brazil, the session illustrated how collective action, Indigenous governance, and traditional knowledge are driving policy change and empowering local food sovereignty. Together, these examples highlight how community-led movements are shaping just, resilient, and transformative regional food systems. 

Speakers: 

Erin Nelson Is an Associate Professor at the University of Guelph in the Department of Sociology & Anthropology. With a background in International Development and Rural Studies, her research explores the development of more sustainable food systems with a particular focus on agroecology initiatives in both Canada and Latin America. In particular, she is interested in how knowledge-exchange can build capacity for agroecological production, and how agroecology can contribute to ecological resilience and community wellbeing. In Veracruz, Mexico, she collaborates with farmer networks, researchers and civil society organizations to scale up agroecological production of small-scale citrus farmers in ways the are healthy for their land and communities.  

Andrew Spring is an Assistant Professor of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University. Canada Research Chair in Northern Sustainable Food Systems and Director of the Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems. His research is driven by community priorities in the Northwest Territories to advance sustainable food systems and build capacity around climate change adaptation. For over 10 years Andrew has supported participatory action research projects in collaboration with First Nations communities in the NWT.  He is the Principal Investigator on The Future Harvest Partnership which engages with food producers and local communities of the Northwest Territories to co-create research and generate insights for innovation and policy that can inform the development of a climate-resilient local food system. 

Johanna Wilkes is a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University. Johanna’s research examines how international institutions address climate-resilient farming and sustainable food futures, with a particular focus on agroecological transitions. Working with partners in Andhra Pradesh, India, Johanna has explored how Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) reduces farmer debt, builds on traditional knowledge, and fosters farmer-to-farmer learning. Her work highlights how enabling policy frameworks, influential advocates, community-led partnerships, and farmer-to-farmer learning networks have converged to make ZBNF one of the largest agroecological transitions in the world. 

Eve Nimmo is a historical archaeologist whose career spans Brazil, Ecuador, Canada, and the UK, working across museums, NGOs, and universities. She is the Curator of the Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology and Ethnographic Collections at the University of Alberta. Her research brings together public history, community-based research, oral histories, and material culture to explore cultural heritage in its many forms. In Southern Brazil, Eve works with local communities to value and protect the agroecological and agroforestry systems to produce shade-grown erva-mate in the Araucaria Forest of Paraná. By building networks grounded in traditional knowledge and practice, she supports the development of cultural and environmental heritage conservation programs, policies, and strategies that sustain both livelihoods and landscapes.