Tammara Soma
Biographic Data
| ID | 328068 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Tammara Soma |
| GIVEN NAMES | Tammara |
| FAMILY NAME | Soma |
| SIGNATURE | SOMA T |
| AFFILIATIONS | Simon Fraser University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4273-1165 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 16 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 4 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 16 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2021 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Living labs as transformative incrementalism
The Living Lab approach is an opportunity for diverse actors to co-create solutions to solve real-world issues. Simon Fraser University, situated on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen peoples in British Columbia, Canada developed a Living Lab program to apply the university's leading climate research expertise to solve its own infrastructure, operation…
Achieving an equitable circular food economy in Vancouver
Indigenizing Food System Planning for Food System Resiliency
Problem, research strategy and findings Planners conduct community food assessments for the purpose of supporting community food security efforts. However, assessments of community food assets, including their availability and access, are often limited in their consideration of ecological and cultural assets that are central to Indigenous food systems. Moreover, what are considered mainstream food assets may not reflect the everyday lived experie…
Neoliberal growth vs food system democratization
Recycling Infrastructures in Cambodia
With checkered hats and colorful clothes, and carrying heavy pushcarts full of recyclable waste, the Ed Jais of Cambodia are the key figures in Kathrin Eitel's Recycling Infrastructures in Cambodia: Circularity, Waste, and Urban Life in Phnom Penh. In the book, Eitel explores the role, dynamic, and practices of the Ed Jais (waste pickers/waste collectors) in Cambodia and identifies an emerging practice within a complex waste network that the auth…
Sovereign at heart
This article reflects on a year-long project that used both photovoice and food asset mapping methods in the Alberni-Clayoquot Region of British Columbia, Canada. Following others who emphasize reciprocation in research and the application of a heart-centered approach, this work had a two-fold purpose: 1) to give back to the community in which the researcher lived and worked, and 2) to create visual material and food policy guidance for the commu…
Reflections From Implementing a Virtual Social Innovation Lab
Qualitative research methods had to quickly adapt to using online platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic to limit in-person interactions. Online platforms have been used extensively for interviews and focus groups, but workshops with larger groups requiring more complex interactions have not been widely implemented. This paper presents a case study of a fully virtual social innovation lab on bioplastics packaging, which was adapted from a series …
Critical food guidance for tackling food waste in Canada
Food waste is a complex problem with far reaching negative environmental, social, and economic impacts. To identify appropriate solutions to address food waste, the food recovery hierarchy developed by the Environmental Protection Agency is currently the most popular guiding framework in food waste prevention and reduction. However, this paper found that the application and the interpretation of the guide is quite problematic due to its lack of c…
Research priorities for global food security under extreme events
Extreme events, such as those caused by climate change, economic or geopolitical shocks, and pest or disease epidemics, threaten global food security. The complexity of causation, as well as the myriad ways that an event, or a sequence of events, creates cascading and systemic impacts, poses significant challenges to food systems research and policy alike. To identify priority food security risks and research opportunities, we asked experts from …
Food access, mobility, and transportation
Drawing from the findings, this study recommends that non-profit food hubs maintain a food delivery option and that the local transportation authority provides convenient and reliable paratransit service. Furthermore, this study recommends that the provincial government considers subsidizing transit passes for low-income households, that the provincial and/or federal governments consider bolstering existing government assistance programs, and tha…
To the farm, Mars, and beyond
The climate crisis, natural resource exploitation, and concerns around how to feed a growing world population have resulted in a growing chorus identifying the need for a Plan B. For some, this Plan B entails preparing for long-duration space missions and the development of human settlement on Mars. To plan for long-duration space missions, the development of food production technologies that can withstand extreme conditions such as poor soil, la…
A Citizen Science and Photovoice Approach to Food Asset Mapping and Food System Planning
Food asset mapping conducted by planners and policymakers usually consists of an online map identifying the locations of food-related sites in cities. However, food asset mapping may be limited in its consideration for ecological and cultural assets critical for community food security. Furthermore, what are considered "assets" may not reflect the everyday lived experiences of marginalized communities. This study applied a "citizen science" photo…
Communicating the Benefits and Risks of Digital Agriculture Technologies
British Columbia’s food system is experiencing an emerging trend in the digitalization of agriculture, which will impact agricultural practices in the province. The rapid growth of this field has created a niche for training and education in digital agriculture and more specifically, in areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and computing. However, it remains unclear whether current educators and trainers in British …
Preserving stories, preserving food
Worldviews, cultures, spirituality, and history not only influence how societies define “food” and “waste”, they also shape how we consume food and the relationship we have with the broader food system. While food waste has emerged as a global concern and a complex “wicked problem” that impacts stakeholders at all scales of operations, the issue is often framed as an environmental and economic problem, and less so as a social problem. As the food…
Looking back on food studies in 2020-2021 in so-called Canada
In this collectively drafted Commentary, we offer some reflections on the past year for CAFS (Canadian Association for Food Stuides), and the state of food studies in general. Note: this is a modified version of the 2021 CAFS Presidential Address, given at the joint CAFS/ASFS/AFHVS/SAFN Conference Just Food: Because it never it just Food on June 10th, 20201
Urban household food waste
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand determinants of food waste through analysing patterns of practices including shopping, planning, consumption of leftovers and attitudes around best-before dates. Design/methodology/approach A survey and waste composition analysis of 142 households was conducted in the City of Toronto. Bivariate analyses and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using a structural equation model were used to identify…
A Citizen Science and Photovoice Approach to Food Asset Mapping and Food System Planning
Food asset mapping conducted by planners and policymakers usually consists of an online map identifying the locations of food-related sites in cities. However, food asset mapping may be limited in its consideration for ecological and cultural assets critical for community food security. Furthermore, what are considered "assets" may not reflect the everyday lived experiences of marginalized communities. This study applied a "citizen science" photo…
Living labs as transformative incrementalism
The Living Lab approach is an opportunity for diverse actors to co-create solutions to solve real-world issues. Simon Fraser University, situated on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen peoples in British Columbia, Canada developed a Living Lab program to apply the university's leading climate research expertise to solve its own infrastructure, operation…
Communicating the Benefits and Risks of Digital Agriculture Technologies
British Columbia’s food system is experiencing an emerging trend in the digitalization of agriculture, which will impact agricultural practices in the province. The rapid growth of this field has created a niche for training and education in digital agriculture and more specifically, in areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and computing. However, it remains unclear whether current educators and trainers in British …
Preserving stories, preserving food
Worldviews, cultures, spirituality, and history not only influence how societies define “food” and “waste”, they also shape how we consume food and the relationship we have with the broader food system. While food waste has emerged as a global concern and a complex “wicked problem” that impacts stakeholders at all scales of operations, the issue is often framed as an environmental and economic problem, and less so as a social problem. As the food…
Looking back on food studies in 2020-2021 in so-called Canada
In this collectively drafted Commentary, we offer some reflections on the past year for CAFS (Canadian Association for Food Stuides), and the state of food studies in general. Note: this is a modified version of the 2021 CAFS Presidential Address, given at the joint CAFS/ASFS/AFHVS/SAFN Conference Just Food: Because it never it just Food on June 10th, 20201
Urban household food waste
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand determinants of food waste through analysing patterns of practices including shopping, planning, consumption of leftovers and attitudes around best-before dates. Design/methodology/approach A survey and waste composition analysis of 142 households was conducted in the City of Toronto. Bivariate analyses and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using a structural equation model were used to identify…
Critical food guidance for tackling food waste in Canada
Food waste is a complex problem with far reaching negative environmental, social, and economic impacts. To identify appropriate solutions to address food waste, the food recovery hierarchy developed by the Environmental Protection Agency is currently the most popular guiding framework in food waste prevention and reduction. However, this paper found that the application and the interpretation of the guide is quite problematic due to its lack of c…
Research priorities for global food security under extreme events
Extreme events, such as those caused by climate change, economic or geopolitical shocks, and pest or disease epidemics, threaten global food security. The complexity of causation, as well as the myriad ways that an event, or a sequence of events, creates cascading and systemic impacts, poses significant challenges to food systems research and policy alike. To identify priority food security risks and research opportunities, we asked experts from …
Food access, mobility, and transportation
Drawing from the findings, this study recommends that non-profit food hubs maintain a food delivery option and that the local transportation authority provides convenient and reliable paratransit service. Furthermore, this study recommends that the provincial government considers subsidizing transit passes for low-income households, that the provincial and/or federal governments consider bolstering existing government assistance programs, and tha…
To the farm, Mars, and beyond
The climate crisis, natural resource exploitation, and concerns around how to feed a growing world population have resulted in a growing chorus identifying the need for a Plan B. For some, this Plan B entails preparing for long-duration space missions and the development of human settlement on Mars. To plan for long-duration space missions, the development of food production technologies that can withstand extreme conditions such as poor soil, la…
A Citizen Science and Photovoice Approach to Food Asset Mapping and Food System Planning
Food asset mapping conducted by planners and policymakers usually consists of an online map identifying the locations of food-related sites in cities. However, food asset mapping may be limited in its consideration for ecological and cultural assets critical for community food security. Furthermore, what are considered "assets" may not reflect the everyday lived experiences of marginalized communities. This study applied a "citizen science" photo…
Sovereign at heart
This article reflects on a year-long project that used both photovoice and food asset mapping methods in the Alberni-Clayoquot Region of British Columbia, Canada. Following others who emphasize reciprocation in research and the application of a heart-centered approach, this work had a two-fold purpose: 1) to give back to the community in which the researcher lived and worked, and 2) to create visual material and food policy guidance for the commu…
Reflections From Implementing a Virtual Social Innovation Lab
Qualitative research methods had to quickly adapt to using online platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic to limit in-person interactions. Online platforms have been used extensively for interviews and focus groups, but workshops with larger groups requiring more complex interactions have not been widely implemented. This paper presents a case study of a fully virtual social innovation lab on bioplastics packaging, which was adapted from a series …
Indigenizing Food System Planning for Food System Resiliency
Problem, research strategy and findings Planners conduct community food assessments for the purpose of supporting community food security efforts. However, assessments of community food assets, including their availability and access, are often limited in their consideration of ecological and cultural assets that are central to Indigenous food systems. Moreover, what are considered mainstream food assets may not reflect the everyday lived experie…
Neoliberal growth vs food system democratization
Recycling Infrastructures in Cambodia
With checkered hats and colorful clothes, and carrying heavy pushcarts full of recyclable waste, the Ed Jais of Cambodia are the key figures in Kathrin Eitel's Recycling Infrastructures in Cambodia: Circularity, Waste, and Urban Life in Phnom Penh. In the book, Eitel explores the role, dynamic, and practices of the Ed Jais (waste pickers/waste collectors) in Cambodia and identifies an emerging practice within a complex waste network that the auth…
Achieving an equitable circular food economy in Vancouver
Living labs as transformative incrementalism
The Living Lab approach is an opportunity for diverse actors to co-create solutions to solve real-world issues. Simon Fraser University, situated on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen peoples in British Columbia, Canada developed a Living Lab program to apply the university's leading climate research expertise to solve its own infrastructure, operation…
Economics (11 works) · Geography (11 works) · Agriculture (10 works) · Business (10 works) · Food security (9 works) · Political science (9 works) · Sociology (8 works) · Economic growth (7 works) · Food systems (7 works) · Computer Science (5 works)