What is the connection between food security and sustainable development in a global city like Toronto? In this episode, Dr. Jaclyn Rohel talks with Suman Roy of the Scarborough Food Security Initiative about tackling the root causes of hunger through capacity-building and economic empowerment. Suman’s pathway to working in hunger relief began first in food operations, where he worked as a chef in the hospitality, higher ed, and corporate sectors. Suman has since had a hand in shaping local food policy and in launching community-based programs: during the Covid-19 pandemic he created mobile markets and emergency food distribution sites, and most recently he launched the Zero Hunger Project, a global platform to enable sharing of knowledge and resources towards eradicating hunger by connecting grassroots stakeholders around the world. Reflecting on what resilience means to him, Suman emphasizes the importance of localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and shares what that looks like in Toronto. In addition to food access programs, such as the food truck it will soon launch in the coming weeks, the Scarborough Food Security Initiative runs entrepreneurship programs to promote economic opportunity through upskilling, resource support, and network-building. A market hall – developed in partnership with the City of Toronto and operated by the Scarborough Food Security Initiative – just launched its third incubation cohort, providing newcomers with training, food handling certification, and experience in running their own prepared food business. Looking back on getting FoodHallTO up and running, Suman discusses the opportunities, challenges, and practical advice he would offer other organizations looking to create a similar marketplace program. As the conversation winds up, Suman emphasizes the importance of connecting local efforts to a global movement towards Zero Hunger. This interview was recorded on July 28, 2025 and has been lightly edited for length and clarity.  

In August 2025, the World Food Forum (WFF) Global Youth Action Initiative launched an Ontario chapter to engage youth in transforming food systems and localizing the sustainable development goals. The WFF is an initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Feeding City Lab research assistant Amber McNeil shares details about her work with this youth-led initiative at the end of the episode. 

To access the Zero Hunger Project’s global platform, click here: https://www.zerohungerproject.com/ 

To learn more about the Scarborough Food Security Initiative and its impacts, visit: https://scarboroughfoodsecurityinitiative.com/our-impact 

For more information on the Feeding City Lab’s collaboration with the Scarborough Food Security Initiative, access our past webinar on emergency food provisioning and a feature story (“Hunger Pains”) in the University of Toronto Magazine. 

To learn more about the Voices from the Food Frontlines, Sustainable Foodways podcast series, visit the Feeding City Lab at https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/projects/feedingcity/sustainable-foodways/. 

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