Overview

We are a group of Sprott students who are passionate about sustainability. We would like to support the ‘sustainable food production’ project at the teaching and research garden, to help further the school’s research in sustainable food technology. 

This initiative focuses on developing saffron as a high-value cash crop for eastern Ontario, driven by students and faculty in Food Science and Biology. It’s part of a broader effort to promote sustainable food production at the university. The initiative operates from the Biology Teaching and Research Garden and Nesbitt Greenhouses, collaborating with on-campus food services and regional agricultural start-ups.

The primary goal is to provide hands-on training and practical experience to students pursuing careers in sustainable food production. This field offers diverse opportunities and addresses crucial food security challenges in Canada, where a significant portion of food is imported, and food waste is prevalent.

Funds from this campaign will support student practicums and paid internships, enhancing the educational experience, research opportunities, and course offerings related to sustainable food production. Carleton students aim to make a positive impact by developing expertise in sustainable food production, promoting food security, and addressing “food deserts” in urban and remote areas.

Ultimately, this initiative strives to empower Carleton students to work towards furthering research in sustainable food technology, and to address food security issues at local, national, and global levels.

The Background

The world’s resources are finite and scarce. Sustainable food aims to avoid damaging or wasting natural resources. It also minimizes its contribution to climate change throughout the whole production process. As business students, we are constantly learning about the importance of instilling values of sustainability into production processes. The existing sustainable food production initiative here at Carleton University focuses on developing sustainable crop-technology for resource-heavy crops.  

This initiative at the Teaching and Research Garden works on farming sustainable food crops, currently, they are focusing on harvesting saffron crops, which is one of the most expensive food items to farm. 

Our campaign is aimed at raising awareness and funds to help support the garden and specifically help support the high financial needs of this project. We plan on developing a comprehensive marketing campaign to spread awareness of this project and educate members of the Carleton community on the importance of this work for the development of sustainable food technology. 

The Rollout

Fundraising campaign for Sustainable Food Production at Carleton University could be used to ensure the success of the initiative:

• Purchase Saffron Equipment and Supplies (30% – $300 CAD):

• Purchase the tools and materials required for growing saffron, including corms, soil, containers, and irrigation systems.

• Research and Development (20% – $200 CAD):

• Set aside money to aid with saffron cultivation research projects in eastern Ontario. To maximize saffron output, this could mean carrying out trials, gathering information, and analyzing the findings.

• Educational Workshops and Seminars (15% – $150 CAD):

• For students and community members who are interested in sustainable food production, organize workshops and seminars. These events could address subjects including saffron production methods, environmentally friendly farming methods, and the advantages of saffron as a cash crop.

• Student Engagement and Outreach (15% – $150 CAD):

• Promote student involvement in the initiative by funding outreach activities and engagement programs. This might include organizing educational field visits, providing internships, or assisting student-led saffron cultivation-related projects.

• Infrastructure and Greenhouse Maintenance (15% – $150 CAD):

• Maintain the Nesbitt Greenhouses and the Biology Teaching and Research Garden in good condition to aid future saffron cultivation activities. This includes making improvements and maintaining ideal growing conditions.

• Marketing and Awareness (10% – $100 CAD):

• Use a portion of the funds to raise awareness about the saffron project and sustainable food production through marketing efforts. This may include putting together advertising materials, attending agricultural events, and boosting web visibility.
• Total Budget: $1,000/1,500 CAD

It should be noted that we would like to leave ourselves a margin of maneuver of around $500 to cover any possible cost of overruns or contingencies. 

The Impact

The lasting effect of our campaign contributes to expanding future study, a better community and for everyone in our group.  This project allows interested students to expand their study and contribute their learning to real life scenarios. If successful this project does a lot for students involved and further adds to the much growing prestige of the university. Within the community this research could have a lasting impact on how our food is produced and more importantly how efficiently it is made. Our group unanimously agrees the funding towards this project would be very rich and rewarding to be a part of. We see this project as a great opportunity to use our marketing ability for the greater good and would be very proud to be a part of this research that could have long lasting effects on sustainable food technology.