News

by Rhydian Crawford

Nova Nourishment is a groundbreaking project led by Cultiv8 interns that aims to assess the state of food sustainability and security on campus and design innovative solutions to address these issues.

Interns were tasked with identifying key challenges in food sovereignty and security and implementing prototype solutions in collaboration with various campus stakeholders.
(L to R) Grace,Alejandro, Rhydian and Sam

Each intern brings unique skills and backgrounds, ensuring a well-rounded and diverse approach to its mission. Leading the charge for evidence and evaluation, Sam excels at data collection and analysis. She plays a vital role in determining data needs, reducing bias in survey questions, and creating a database to store and communicate the collected information. Sam also helps interpret and present the data in a meaningful way to guide decision-making.

Grace is responsible for networking and engagement. With her expertise in fostering connections, she leads in building a network of supporters and collaborators within our campus community. She aims to establish long-term partnerships and facilitate conversational communication to find tailor-made solutions for our community's food insecurity.

The ideation and prototyping are driven by Alejandro's creative flair and problem-solving skills that allow him to lead the team in the tangible prototyping stage of the project. He sets short and long-term goals, fosters collaboration among team members, and encourages innovative ideas. Alejandro aims to transform ideas into tangible prototypes quickly, ensuring ample time for testing.

Rhydian's effective communication and storytelling are central to our project's success. They ensure the learning journey is shared with the broader community, crafting compelling narratives that capture the essence of the work. Rhydian also serves as the team's learning historian, documenting progress and keeping everyone informed.

Since September, the team has made significant strides toward its goals. Extensive research and engagment with experts and stakeholders to gain insights into the multifaceted nature of food security and sovereignty on campus was conducted.

Research has included developing comprehensive surveys to gather crucial information about the campus community's food needs and preferences, ensuring solutions are student-centered and culturally relevant. Through networking efforts, the team has established connections with organizations, individuals, and initiatives dedicated to combatting food insecurity on campus. These partnerships will enable the team to leverage existing resources and insights.

Nova Nourishment is actively engaged in analyzing the data collected from surveys and is conducting further research to refine prototype solutions. Exploration of various avenues to address food security and sovereignty, including enhancing student food access, promoting affordable and diverse food options on campus, and addressing issues of equity and inclusion is also taking place.

All members of the campus community who are interested in food security and sovereignty are encouraged to reach out and share their insights.

Collaboration and input from stakeholders is instrumental in designing comprehensive, effective solutions. Whether you are a student, faculty member, or community partner, your input is valuable in ensuring the project's success.

For any inquiries, suggestions, or collaborations, please reach out to  R.Crawford@dal.ca.

Let's work together to cultivate a healthier and more sustainable campus community.