Food System Resilience: A Boston PerspectiveMyra Kraft Open ClassroomThe Food System: Sustainability, Health, and EquityFebruary 8, 2017

Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) Austin Nijhuis, Senior Research Analyst

2

ICIC

• ICIC is a non-profit organization and the leading authority on U.S. inner city economies and the businesses that thrive there

• ICIC developed a groundbreaking urban food system resilience framework to surface vulnerabilities to natural and economic disasters

• ICIC’s framework was first applied to Boston’s food system in 2014-2015

2

Resilience Timeline

3

A resilient food system will return to pre-disaster levels quickly and equitably, so that all residents have adequate access to food in their neighborhood.

ICIC’s Food System Resilience Framework

4

Food Processing Vulnerabilities: Milk

5

• Boston’s milk is supplied and processed by regional dairy farms and processing facilities

– 5 of 9 processing facilities in MA are located within 75 miles of Boston

– 7 additional processing facilities in CT (1), NH (3) and RI (3) are within 75 miles of Boston

– A “Sandy” could disrupt 12 milk processing plants

• 64% of all grocery milk in New England is supplied and processed by two companies: Suiza (Garelick Farms) and Hood

6

• A Sandy-sized storm surge could flood 45% of city warehouse suppliers located in Boston, Chelsea and Everett

• Supermarket warehouse suppliers are located north and south of Boston

• A Sandy-sized storm surge could flood most of I-93 in Boston

Food Distribution Vulnerabilities

7

• Most residents have access to a grocery store and corner store

• A Sandy-sized storm surge could flood 9 grocery stores (23%) and 59 corner stores (25%) in Boston

• Dorchester, East Boston and Roxbury vulnerable due to lower share of grocery stores, higher share of retail outlets in at risk areas and higher percentage of school-aged children

Food Retail Vulnerabilities

8

• Dorchester, East Boston and Roxbury have vulnerable food access

• Food safety net (e.g., food bank, food pantries) struggle to meet an increasing demand

• Greater Boston Food Bank vulnerable to supply chain disruptions

Food Insecurity

Recommendations for the City of Boston

9

•Greater public-private food system coordination, within Boston and the region

• Investment in critical food system infrastructure, including buildings and roads

• Incorporate a resilience perspective into the City’s efforts to expand local food production, processing and distribution

•Diversify milk supply to retail outlets, including expanding regional milk suppliers

Boston Update

10

•Boston joined the 100 Resilient Cities Network and hired its first Chief Resilience Officer in 2015

•Metro Boston Climate Preparedness Taskforce continuing research on strengthening the resilience of fresh food distribution centers in Chelsea and Everett

•City of Boston’s Office of Food Initiatives supporting research on neighborhood food access

•Resilience planning is complicated and requires building sustainable coalitions

Resilient Food Systems, Resilient Cities: Recommendations for the City of Boston

11

• Available online: http://www.icic.org/research/resilience

• For additional information, contact:Austin Nijhuisanijhuis@icic.org

ICIC’S MISSION IS TO DRIVE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY IN AMERICA’S INNER CITIES THROUGH PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT TO CREATE JOBS, INCOME, AND WEALTH FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS. WWW.ICIC.ORG