A National Campus Food Coalition

The National Campus Food Coalition is a Canadian network focused on transforming campus food systems through student-led, justice-oriented initiatives. It connects campus groups, food co-ops, gardens, and advocacy projects working to build more equitable, sustainable, and democratic food systems at colleges and universities across Canada. 

Key facts

• Scope: Canada-wide campus food systems network
• Focus: Food justice, food sovereignty, and solidarity economy organizing on campuses 
• Members: Student groups, campus food coalitions, co-ops, and allied organizations
• Activities: Mapping initiatives, convening networks, sharing resources and strategies 

Origins and context

The coalition emerged from efforts to connect independent campus food justice initiatives—like Concordia’s, University of Toronto and McGill’s food coalitions—into a broader national network. Organizers involved in local campus food coalitions helped convene this larger formation to “broaden the reach of independent initiatives” and build a common infrastructure for collaboration. 

Goals and approach

The National Campus Food Coalition’s work centers on food justice and the solidarity economy. It aims to:

• Support student-led and community-led alternatives to corporate food providers
• Share organizing tools, research, and governance models across campuses
• Build democratic, cooperative food infrastructures (e.g., co-ops, markets, gardens)
• Link food work to broader struggles around labor, housing, climate, and decolonization

A key part of its approach is mapping and connecting existing campus projects so they can learn from one another, coordinate campaigns, and access shared resources. 

Activities and partnerships

Practically, the coalition’s activities have included building a directory/map of student-run food projects across Canada and facilitating connections between groups through partner organizations in the solidarity economy space.

These efforts help campus organizers see themselves as part of a larger national movement to democratize food systems rather than isolated local projects.

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