Submission ID 122341
| Issue/Objective | Food insecurity has reached crisis levels in Canada and around the world, fueled by rapid inflation, housing cost pressures, climate change, and widening income inequality. In Canada alone, nearly two million food bank visits are recorded monthly, yet significant inequities in access to services persist - particularly in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. Addressing these inequities requires not only local action but also systemic policy change. This project introduces a novel geospatial mapping approach that identifies service gaps in real time, equipping decision-makers with actionable evidence to drive both immediate interventions and long-term solutions. |
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| Methodology/Approach | Food Banks Canada has developed an innovative geospatial mapping framework that integrates household food insecurity prevalence, socioeconomic indicators, and food bank utilization data across the country. By overlaying population need with service availability, this model pinpoints underserved areas with precision. The approach goes beyond traditional mapping by combining community-level data with national coverage, enabling scalable insights. The tool is designed to inform food bank planning, guide cross-sector partnerships, and support advocacy for structural reforms to reduce poverty and improve income security. |
| Results | Early analyses expose stark geographic disparities: communities with the highest rates of food insecurity often face the greatest barriers to food bank access. Rural, northern, and Indigenous regions are disproportionately affected, with limited or no service proximity. This framework has already begun informing how Food Banks Canada allocates resources and builds partnerships. The model's adaptability makes it a powerful template for other health and social systems globally whether mapping access to healthcare, climate-resilient infrastructure, or essential services during crises. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Geospatial analytics represent a breakthrough opportunity to close service gaps and strengthen equity in food and public health. By linking local service provision with broader socioeconomic realities, this approach generates insights that are both practical for frontline planning and transformative for systemic policy advocacy. The Canadian experience demonstrates the potential of mapping technology to accelerate evidence-based, equity-driven solutions to global health challenges. Scaling this model internationally could strengthen resilience in food systems, health services, and emergency preparedness in an era of compounding global crises. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Khoaja Khaled Food Banks Canada Richard Matern Food Banks Canada |
