Outcomes
S.C.O.T Analysis of Yukon Food System
STRENGTHS, CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS
A S.C.O.T Analysis is a strategic planning tool that can be used to assess the strengths, challenges, opportunities and threats of a community, organization or system and its parts. The components of a SCOT analysis guide evaluation of a particular environment from internal and external perspectives. For example, strengths and challenges are focused on internal issues whereas opportunities and threats are external. (source)
CHALLENGES:
- Restrictive legislation
- Costs (shipping, start-up and funding)
- Dependence on external food resources
- Access to space/land
- Access to clean and quality land
- Transfer and communication of knowledge
- Lack of coordination
- Climate
- Power outages (particularly in rural communities) - leads to increased risk of spoiling food for those who don't have access to backup power
THREATS:
- Climate change
- Road south
- Economic change
- Fires (wild); Natural disaster
- Big business influence
- Monopolizing food systems
- Burn out of concerned citizens
- Policy that prohibits collective action
- Rising food prices; lack of jobs
- Lack of education
- Long term viability of food programs
- Burn out of producers/farmers
- Lack of consolidation
- Scattered networking
- Lack of/reduced traditional meat
STRENGTHS:
- Funding – available for local food production, innovation and research
- Awareness and interest in local food production, hunting and gathering
- Traditional and local knowledge sharing (i.e. farmers teaching; production and wild foods)
- Governance – collaboration between Yukon First Nations Governments/communities/Yukon Government; regulations support food production (i.e. Local Food Strategy)
- Communities are strong! – gardens, food sharing, food co-ops, food networks, local projects
- Growing season – long days (in summer)
- Small population with good transport system
- Caring and respect – for food, land, wildlife, community, etc.
OPPORTUNITIES:
- Education – capacity building and knowledge exchange; build curriculum (practical applications)
- Money – private sector agriculture development; traditional and cultural agriculture development
- Health – address impact on mental health and promotion of wellness
- Government –need policy to guide action; election year = opportunity for dialogue
- Farming – support home/community gardening
- Community – collaboration between communities (food sharing and storage, space to grow food, and knowledge exchange); communities developing their own food security strategies