Strengthening Food Security Near the Arctic Circle: Case Study of Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska

• Published in: Sustainability
• Main Authors: Robert W. Orttung, James Powell, James Fox, Claire Franco
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019
• Subjects: food security; Arctic; community engagement; Environmental effects of industries and plants; TD194-195; Renewable energy sources; TJ807-830; Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Fairbanks; North Star; Alaska
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102722; https://doaj.org/article/d188e914bb694b82b99449ce594d9a20

Reliable food supply is a central concern for residents of cities located in remote locations with extreme climate conditions. The purpose of this article is to examine how stake-holders in such northern cities ensure a high level of food security. We examine a case study of the Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, which is located in the interior of the state near the Arctic Circle. Borough policymakers are seeking to address community concerns through a collaborative, multi-stakeholder process of working with local farmers, distributors, consumers, activists, and academics. We examine the effectiveness of this process through participant-observation and process tracing of the initial results of the newly established Fairbanks North Star Borough sustainability commission. The new commission has adopted a sustainability plan drawing upon the input of community stakeholders, but it remains to be seen how the plan will be implemented and if it will meet the needs of diverse groups within the community. This analysis makes a contribution by examining the hypothesis that university-based teams and public input can improve public policy outputs in the area of food security by organizing their work around a focus on data. Specifically, the article examines the most effective mechanisms for collaboration among academics and policymakers to incorporate public input into food security policies.