Fueling Brighter Futures Through National School Food Policy with Debbie Field
Release Date: 04/08/2025
Why Feeding Northern Canada Is a Moral Imperative
Zero Hunger Project
What would happen if we treated feeding Northern Canada not as a challenge, but as a moral duty? In this episode of the Zero Hunger Project, Dr. Joseph LeBlanc, Associate Vice President of Equity and Inclusion at NOSM University and Vice President of Associate Faculties of Medicine of Canada, shares firsthand insights on why hunger in the North is political, not just geographical. He highlights grassroots successes that show what’s possible when communities are given the means to lead their own food systems. You’ll learn how policy gaps, colonial legacies, and extractive resource...
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Is Starving North Canada A Political Decision?
Zero Hunger Project
What if hunger in Northern Canada isn’t just a matter of distance or cost, but politics? In this episode of the Zero Hunger Project, Dr. Joseph LeBlanc, Director of Indigenous Affairs at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, pulls back the curtain on the structural issues driving hunger in the North. He shares how policies rooted in colonialism, economic inequity, and environmental mismanagement continue to starve these communities. Dr. Joseph explains why short-term aid like grocery rebates can’t replace long-term systemic change, and shares grassroots solutions already thriving in...
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Cutting Food Waste to End World Hunger with Lori Nikkel
Zero Hunger Project
In this episode of the Zero Hunger Project, Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest, reveals how nearly half of Canada’s food goes to waste—and much of it is still perfectly edible. Lori shares how this isn’t just a hunger issue, but an environmental emergency, as she explains how food in landfills creates methane gas that directly contributes to the climate crisis. Whether you’re a business owner, policymaker, or concerned citizen, there’s a role for you in creating a better food system. Tune in and learn how to fight food waste—and help end hunger. ▶️ Cutting Food Waste to...
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The Unseen Global Crisis of Conflict, Climate, and Global Injustice with Bob Rae
Zero Hunger Project
Hunger is more than empty plates—it's the result of conflict, climate change, and political injustice. Ambassador Bob Rae, Canada's Ambassador to the United Nations, exposes the harsh truth behind global food insecurity and shares what it takes to bring real change. Canada’s role, alongside the UN's mission, is pivotal in reshaping global food security and building resilience against these growing crises. Listen to Ambassador Bob Rae reveal how we can break the cycle and build a world where no one is left behind. Tune in now. ▶️ The Unseen Global Crisis of Conflict,...
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Ending Campus Hunger with Sam Laban
Zero Hunger Project
Hunger shouldn’t be part of getting a degree. Campus Hunger isn't about bad budgeting. It's about broken systems. In this episode of the Zero Hunger Project, Sam Laban, manager of the Guelph Lab, shares how institutions can stop treating student hunger as a rite of passage. He walks us through the power of data, student leadership, and bold university-led programs that tackle food insecurity at the root. Sam also challenges the toxic myth that hunger is just “part of the experience.” It’s not. It’s a barrier to graduation, mental wellness, and long-term stability. ...
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A Future Without Hunger Is Possible with Stefanos Fotiou
Zero Hunger Project
Hunger persists, not because we lack food, but because we’ve accepted broken systems for far too long. In this episode of the Zero Hunger Project, you’ll hear from Stefanos Fotiou, who’s doing more than imagining that future. He calls out the system failures, food waste, skewed pricing, and harmful subsidies that keep people hungry while letting power stay concentrated. The message is clear: hunger isn’t caused by scarcity. It’s caused by structure. And the structure can be changed. Being a consumer isn’t enough anymore. We must become food citizens, people who care about...
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The Painful Truth About Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with Stefanos Fotiou
Zero Hunger Project
Why do millions still suffer from hunger despite the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and decades of promises? In this episode, Suman Roy and Stacia Neale sit down with Stefanos Fotiou, a global force in sustainable development and Director at the UN FAO, to ask the hard questions about the SDGs. He’s here to break the silence on why the world is failing on its most ambitious goals and shares why, if we stay on the current path, most SDG targets will remain out of reach. They also dig deeper truths behind food waste, market imbalance, and why only 7.8 cents of every dollar in food...
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Zero Hunger Vision: Resilience Over Rations
Zero Hunger Project
Fighting hunger isn’t just about handing out food. It’s about building systems that work. In this episode of the Zero Hunger Project Podcast, Stacia Neale interviews Suman Roy. Suman shares the three-layer approach of Feed Scarborough: emergency food access, building community resilience, and pushing for long-term policy solutions. They also speak about hunger in the Global North—why it’s often ignored, and why that must stop. From food policy at the UN to grassroots organizing in Canada, you’ll get an inside look at what it takes to push for real, sustainable change....
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Fueling Brighter Futures Through National School Food Policy with Debbie Field
Zero Hunger Project
Imagine a world where every child starts their day with a full stomach and a real shot at learning, growing, and thriving. This MUST be a basic right, right? In this episode of the Zero Hunger Project Podcast, hosts Suman Roy and Stacia Neale connect with Debbie Field, the coordinator of the Coalition for Healthy School Food, who shares how her personal experience as a child in New York's school lunch line shaped her lifelong mission to fight food insecurity. She has been a driving force behind Canada’s first-ever national school food program. With over 360 nonprofit...
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Food Justice VS Food Sovereignty VS Food Security, What does this mean? with Mustafa Koc (Part 2)
Zero Hunger Project
The way food is grown, distributed, and accessed affects every single person on this planet. But do we truly understand the difference between food justice, food sovereignty, and food security? In the second-part episode of our interview with Dr. Mustafa Koc, emeritus professor of sociology at Toronto Metropolitan University, hosts Suman Roy and Stacia Neale discuss his decades-push for policies that prioritize people over profits in the fight against hunger. Dr. Mustafa also reveals how corporate power, political inaction, and broken policies keep people hungry. And why your...
info_outlineImagine a world where every child starts their day with a full stomach and a real shot at learning, growing, and thriving. This MUST be a basic right, right?
In this episode of the Zero Hunger Project Podcast, hosts Suman Roy and Stacia Neale connect with Debbie Field, the coordinator of the Coalition for Healthy School Food, who shares how her personal experience as a child in New York's school lunch line shaped her lifelong mission to fight food insecurity. She has been a driving force behind Canada’s first-ever national school food program.
With over 360 nonprofit partners and 140 endorsers, Debbie helps to lead the charge to ensure all children have access to healthy food at school. From community-run programs in Toronto to the recent federal policy breakthroughs, she outlines how local advocacy sparked national change.
You’ll learn how parents, educators, and everyday citizens played a role in pushing this forward.
The path to food justice often starts right where you are—with a teacher, a lunchroom, and a shared vision.
Tune in to this episode and learn how your voice—yes, yours—can help build a future where no child learns on an empty stomach.
▶️ Fueling Brighter Futures Through National School Food Policy with Debbie Field
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Debbie Field is the Coordinator of the Coalition for Healthy School Food, leading a network of 360+ organizations advocating for a National School Food Program. With extensive experience in food security and policy, she is an Associate Member at the Centre for Studies in Food Security at Toronto Metropolitan University and a Visiting Faculty Member at McGill University’s Max Bell School of Public Policy. Debbie’s work focuses on ensuring equitable access to nutritious meals for children and shaping policies that prioritize health and education. She holds degrees in Sociology and Adult Education, along with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from York University. Through research, advocacy, and policy development, she continues to drive systemic change in school food programs nationwide.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-field-255b9113/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.field.982/
Twitter: https://x.com/debbie_field
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Feed Scarborough is a vital community organization working to create a Hunger-Free Resilient Scarborough through innovative, dignity-focused food programs. Founded by Suman Roy in 2018, it has grown from a small holiday initiative into a multi-site operation serving over 7,500 residents weekly. The organization runs six food banks, a mobile healthy meal program, farmers’ markets, and community gardens while also offering long-term solutions like culinary training and small business support. Central to its mission is the belief that access to healthy food is a human right. Feed Scarborough’s approach tackles both urgent food insecurity and the systemic causes of poverty.
Website: https://scarboroughfoodsecurityinitiative.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FeedScarborough/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feedscarborough
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scarborough-food-security-initiative/
X: https://x.com/feedscarborough
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCySrX5FhXo0bjYw6SKpjURA
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Suman Roy is a globally recognized leader in food security, poverty reduction, and community resilience. As the founder of Feed Scarborough and a key force behind Hunger-Free Canada and the Zero Hunger Project, he is dedicated to ensuring no one goes to bed hungry. He played a pivotal role in crafting Toronto’s first Food Strategy and has represented Canada at the United Nations and FAO to champion sustainable development goals. With multiple global leadership awards, including CEO of the Year (NGO) and Visionary of the Year, Suman is a sought-after expert on global food security. His mission is clear: to create a hunger-free, resilient future for all.
Website: https://sumanroy.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roy4ward20#
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chefsuman/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefsuman/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWrU2TbiLazorpOHjsDJhkA
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Stacia Neale, M.A., is a seasoned professional dedicated to fostering equality, representation, and social justice. With a background in sociology and decades of experience across entrepreneurial, non-profit, and corporate sectors, she brings a unique perspective to addressing systemic challenges. During the pandemic, she launched The Skills Audit, a transformative program empowering individuals to articulate their professional identities and maximize their potential. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to uplifting marginalized communities and creating opportunities for growth. Through authenticity and advocacy, Stacia continues to champion meaningful change on a global scale.
Website: https://www.theskillsaudit.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theskillsaudit#
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacianeale/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-skills-audit/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theskillsaudit/