A Food-Circular Economy-Women Nexus: Lessons from Guelph-Wellington

by Boundless Accelerator
January 25, 2022

Innovation Guelph analyzed Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) implementation and interaction from 40 unstructured interviews from SMEs participating in Guelph-Wellington’s Seeding Our Food Future (SOFF) program, part of the wider Our Food Future (OFF) initiative led by the City of Guelph and Wellington County. The authors used the United Nations SDGs as a research lens to build on traditional water, energy, food resource nexus approaches. This approach reveals the central position of the circular economy and gender in an emerging Food-Circular Economy-Women nexus in Guelph-Wellington’s agri-food sector.

Results show that 16/17 SDGs and associated targets were addressed by participating SMEs. Environmental SDGs were implemented the most, followed by social and economic ones. SDGs 2 (Sustainable Food Production), 12 (Sustainable Consumption and Production), and 5 (Gender Equality) had the most general implementation and direct paired interactions and were associated with the broadest number of SDGs. Closer analysis revealed this nexus is most active in agriculture, and that women are responsible for introducing a social aspect, which addresses food security.

Read the paper for all the exciting lessons revealed!

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/1/192

Original Article on Innovation Guelph

Boundless Accelerator
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Boundless Accelerator™ offers unique programs and initiatives to support businesses from startup to scaleup for a strong, diverse, inclusive, sustainable economy. Since our inception in 2011 as Innovation Guelph, our award-winning programs have grown to serve 1,400+ entrepreneurs across Ontario and Canada who are building a strong, inclusive, equitable and sustainable economy. Accolades for our work include the University of Guelph’s Gordon S. Lang HeForShe Impact Award, the National Enterprise Support of the Year Award and the CANIE Enterprise Support of the Year award for advancing Canadian entrepreneurship through leadership and impact. Most recently, the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) Innovation Awards recognized our i.d.e.a. Fund program for Innovation in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Boundless Accelerator™ connects entrepreneurs with Regional Innovation Centres in Ontario for additional resources and strives to partner with like-minded organizations across Canada to further support and guide our clients to success. Based in Guelph, Ontario, we are in the heart of the Toronto-Waterloo Innovation Corridor, striving to create a future where entrepreneurship knows no limits.