Global Food Systems and Sustainability

Kathleen Kevany serves as an Associate Professor and Director of the Rural Research Collaborative at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Agriculture, where she has established herself as a leading expert in sustainable diets and food systems. Her academic journey includes degrees from Carleton University, and both an M.Ed. and Ed.D. from the University of Toronto. As co-editor of the groundbreaking Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Diets and author of Plant-Based Diets for Succulence and Sustainability, she has significantly influenced the discourse on sustainable food systems and plant-rich living. Her research spans multiple disciplines, examining the intersections of food systems, rural well-being, and environmental sustainability. She currently serves as president of the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation and sits on advisory boards for Canadian Food Studies and the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development. Her work focuses on transforming food systems to address climate change, improve human health, and enhance community well-being, with particular emphasis on plant-based approaches and sustainable agricultural practices.

Sarah Pittoello serves as a counseling therapist and educator at Acadia University, bringing a unique blend of expertise spanning mental health, sustainable agriculture, and education. Her academic background includes a BScH in Astrophysics from Queen's University, an MSc in Holistic Science from Schumacher College, and an MEd in Counselling from Acadia University. As a Registered Counselling Therapist-Candidate (RCT-C), she provides body-centered, mindfulness-based counseling to students dealing with anxiety, stress, depression, grief, trauma, and relationship challenges. Beyond her counseling work, she is an active organic farmer who has been a vendor at the Wolfville Farmers Market and has served as a farmer-in-residence. Her commitment to sustainable food systems is demonstrated through her teaching and writing on the subject at Acadia University's Department of Community Development. She integrates her diverse background in science, agriculture, and mental health to offer a holistic approach to both counseling and education, incorporating yoga and mindfulness practices developed over 12 years of teaching experience.

Chaiti Seth serves as a faculty member in the Department of Community Development at Acadia University, bringing a unique perspective as a mother, farmer, researcher, and experiential educator from India now living in Mi'kma'ki (Nova Scotia). Her research focuses on transforming institutional food systems, particularly through her work at Acadia University, where she has been involved in systems-level change since 2015. Her master's research identified key factors and processes for shifting towards healthier, more sustainable university food systems. As an experiential educator, she combines academic research with practical farming experience, emphasizing the importance of healing and rebuilding relationships as pathways toward sustainable food systems. Her work spans over 12 years of experience in healthy and sustainable food systems, including organic farming practices and institutional change management. Through her teaching and research, she contributes to building more sustainable and resilient communities through food systems transformation.