This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Sustainability is humanities supreme imperative. How we obtain our daily sustenance, is the foundation of our sustainability. Two opposing agri-food system paradigms, life-science intensive and ecologically intensive, are battling it out now in your community and around the globe. Both claim the sustainability high ground. There is much at stake. We will decide the outcome.

To effectively envision and contribute to a sustainable food system future it is important to understand critical attributes and outcomes of the agri-food system which currently dominants as well as the challenges and opportunities present. To inform and encourage your sustainable food system thinking and action, in this talk, Kent will examine our contemporary western industrial agriculture and food system. He will offer his assessment as an agriculturist of nearly four decades and share what he and his team are doing to engage communities and bring about a life-place congruent, community focused, and municipally supported food system in southwest British Columbia to address our sustainable food system challenge and, as a model to the world.


Kent Mullinix is Director- Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University where he works with a multi-disciplinary team conducting applied research to advance sustainable agriculture and food systems, as a foundational and integral element of sustainable society. Before joining KPU Mullinix held the Endowed Joint Chair in Pomology and was an Associate Professor, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Washington State University. Prior he was a fruit and nut crops research specialist for the Universities of Missouri, Minnesota and Kentucky.

Mullinix earned a B.S. in Agriculture M.S. in Horticulture and Ph.D. in Agriculture Education from the University of Missouri. He also earned a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia in Plant Science. His agriculture specialization is deciduous tree fruit production.

Mullinix has lived and worked on diversified farms and experiment stations, owned and operated (with his family for 15 years) a pear orchard on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains, and for 14 years provided direct oversight for the planning, establishment and management of a 45 acre organically farmed apple, sweet cherry and peach teaching and research orchard in north central Washington.


About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)