Development of the Food Systems Literacy Competencies Framework for youth: A modified Delphi study with experts
Alicia Martín, Jess Haines, Evan Fraser
Abstract
• Experts agree that youth need holistic food systems literacy. • 50 key food systems literacy competencies for youth achieved expert consensus. • The Framework provides a roadmap for food systems education and knowledge evaluation. • Competencies must be context specific, are interconnected and developed across the lifespan. Food systems have changed drastically in the last 50 years, are continuously globalizing, and are constantly responding to environmental, social, economic and political challenges. While a primary goal of food systems is to provide food security, food insecurity rates have continued to rise in recent years. To deal with these systemic problems, food systems experts call for food systems literacy. However, there are no common frameworks outlining what people should know about food systems, making it challenging to relay information into education and to the general population. As such, the aim of this research was to identify competencies for food systems literacy for youth in Canada. We conducted a 2-round modified Delphi study to achieve consensus on a list of key competencies for food systems literacy. Delphi studies allow for broad consultation of expert judgements to achieve consensus on complex issues. This resulted in a list of 50 key competencies for food systems literacy (out of 131 tested) across themes for Indigenous food systems, food systems activities (i.e., production to waste as well as some overarching and technology themes), sustainability, food security and governance. This Framework of competencies is the first of its kind and will be useful for directing how food systems can be integrated into education as well as be a guide for food systems literacy evaluation tools.