Using a critical discourse analysis (CDA), this thesis examines how risks and food security, in relation to Genetically Modified (GM) foods, are constructed within the media context. The project analyzes news articles that appeared in two Canadian newspapers, The Globe and Mail and The Toronto Star, and two British newspapers, The London Times and the Guardian, during three particular time periods between 1997 and 2005. I evaluate whether or not the selected articles contribute to the public’s understanding of science, and how journalism constructs risk and uncertainty. I also evaluate the use of expert knowledge by journalists. Using the theory of Risk Society, as proposed by sociologist Ulrich Beck, the project explores the connections between political, social, and economic issues connected to globalization. This thesis concludes that journalism in both Canada and Britain does not appear to adequately inform their citizens on matters of food security and the risks of GMOs.

The Real Food Challenge (RFC) is a national student movement that is trying to harness student power to shift $1 billion'roughly 20% of college and university food budgets across the country towards local, ecologically sound, fair, and humane food sources, what they call "real" food, by 2020. The University of Vermont (UVM) was the fifth university in the country to sign the Real Food Campus Commitment, pledging to shift at least 20% of its own food budget towards "real" food by 2020. The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the implementation of the Real Food Campus Commitment at UVM. In order to examine the demand for "real" food on the UVM campus I analyzed a survey of 904 undergraduate students that used contingent valuation to evaluate students' willingness-to-pay (WTP) for the "real" food attributes. I found that a majority of students are willing to pay a positive premium for "real" food, but that the average premium is quite small. Furthermore, I found that student characteristics and attitudes significantly influence WTP. Specifically, gender, residency, college, and attitudes about price and origin of food are significant predictors of WTP. To evaluate the potential of the RFC to significantly transform the food system I analyzed the activities and components of the RFC using the framework of food democracy. In addition to analyzing the activities and components of the RFC as a national movement, I analyzed the movement as it is being realized on the ground at UVM. My analysis reveals that the RFC has the potential to transform the food system because it promotes all five dimensions of food democracy as both a national movement and as realized on the ground at one university. Both of my analyses suggest that the RFC has significant potential to transform the food system at UVM, but that food systems education for the greater student body will crucial to see that potential fulfilled. This thesis can contribute to the success of the Real Food movement at UVM by identifying areas of weakness and opportunities for improvement in terms of increasing student preference for "real" food and promoting food democracy. Moreover, this thesis may be useful for national RFC staff and other campuses that are implementing the RFC, as it demonstrates how the RFC is being played out on the ground at an institution that is at the forefront of the movement.

Using a critical discourse analysis (CDA), this thesis examines how risks and food security, in relation to Genetically Modified (GM) foods, are constructed within the media context. The project analyzes news articles that appeared in two Canadian newspapers, The Globe and Mail and The Toronto Star, and two British newspapers, The London Times and the Guardian, during three particular time periods between 1997 and 2005. I evaluate whether or not the selected articles contribute to the public’s understanding of science, and how journalism constructs risk and uncertainty. I also evaluate the use of expert knowledge by journalists. Using the theory of Risk Society, as proposed by sociologist Ulrich Beck, the project explores the connections between political, social, and economic issues connected to globalization. This thesis concludes that journalism in both Canada and Britain does not appear to adequately inform their citizens on matters of food security and the risks of GMOs.

研究目的主要是根據參與有機事業的觀點更進一步了解台灣有機領域的狀況。 訪問七位於北台灣的有機領域的參與者進行非正式訪談:有機農戶、店家、有機商品認證機構回答相關有機領域的問題和消費者問卷調查。研究結果顯示獨立有機農戶所面臨一些挑戰和台灣糧食民主機制下運作的潛力—獨立有機農戶處理大部分財團的競爭和有機標誌混淆消費者的狀況下。由於真正問題並非在食物的品質本身於是焦點可轉向對於有機農戶或其他獨立生產機構有利的狀況。最後，本研究將提供一些建議給未來的研究以及提供目前問題的可能解決方法。 / The purpose of this study is to further the understanding of the state of the organic food industry in Taiwan with special consideration given to the perspectives of those participating in it. Seven participants in the organic foods industry in Northern Taiwan were selected for informal interviews. Farmers, store owners, and an organic food certification authority answered questions about the organic food industry, and consumers were surveyed as well. The findings uncovered several challenges that independent organic farmers face, and that the rate of Food Democracy in Taiwan is operating below its potential, as independent farmers deal with competition from dominant corporations, while the organic labeling system confuses consumers. Since the problem is not with the quality of the food, focus can be shifted toward ensuring a level playing field for farmers with smaller independent operations. Finally, this study gives several suggestions for avenues of future research and offers possible solutions to the problems uncovered.

Bien que Montréal soit située dans un pays capitaliste avancé, certains secteurs de la métropole tels que Montréal-Nord sont plus vulnérables sur le plan de l’accès à l’alimentation que d’autres arrondissements montréalais. Caractérisé par une forte population immigrante, un taux de chômage élevé et une forte proportion de citoyens vivant avec un faible revenu, cet arrondissement se distingue par le fait qu’un ménage sur trois est touché par l’insécurité alimentaire. Les études menées sur le sujet tentent généralement d’identifier les zones plus affectées à l’intérieur de l’arrondissement par le biais d’approches quantitatives et d’analyses spatiales. Ce mémoire propose plutôt d’examiner les diverses formes d’interventions qui cherchent à répondre au problème de la faim sur ce territoire en élaborant une typologie permettant de les organiser selon leur degré de remise en question du système alimentaire. Le système alimentaire actuel génère d’importantes inégalités en termes d’accès à l’alimentation. En le réinvestissant, les citoyens Nord-Montréalais développent graduellement une forme de démocratie alimentaire. Le haut niveau d’insécurité alimentaire à Montréal-Nord démontre que l’approche traditionnelle qui s’articule généralement par des solutions allant du haut vers le bas pour répondre au problème de la faim ne suffit pas à adresser la racine du problème. Une nouvelle approche plus radicale et axée sur des solutions provenant du bas vers le haut, se doit d’être identifiée pour commencer à réfléchir aux nouvelles alternatives qui s’offrent aux citoyens de Montréal-Nord afin de réellement s’attaquer aux causes structurelles de l’insécurité alimentaire. / Although Montreal is located in an advanced capitalist country, certain sectors of the metropolis such as Montreal North are more vulnerable in terms of food access than other Montreal boroughs. Characterized by a large immigrant population, a high unemployment rate and a high proportion of citizens living on low income, this district is distinguished by the fact that one in three households is affected by food insecurity. Studies on the subject generally attempt to identify the most affected areas within the borough by means of quantitative approaches and spatial analyzes. This thesis propose rather propose to examine the various forms of intervention which seek to respond to the problem of hunger in this territory by developing a typology allowing them to be organized according to their degree of questioning of the food system. The current food system generates significant inequalities in terms of food access. By reinvesting it, the citizens of North Montreal are gradually developing a form of food democracy. The high level of food insecurity in Montreal-North demonstrates that the traditional approach, which generally revolves around top-down solutions to addressing the problem of hunger, is not enough to address the root of the problem. A new, more radical approach focused on bottom-up solutions must be identified in order to start thinking about the new alternatives available to the citizens of Montreal-North in order to truly tackle the structural causes of food insecurity.