2.3. Nunavik local food valuation

2.3. Replacement valuation of local food: preliminary Nunavik estimation

Based on the reported cost of purchasing revised northern food baskets in Nunavik, and the nutrient composition of these food baskets, we estimate a local food replacement value between $12 per kg (for energy replacement at Nutrition North subsidized store-bought food costs) and $37 per kg (for protein replacement at unsubsidized store-bought food costs).

Based on Nunavik harvest data from 1976-80 (Table 3; [4]), all Nunavik communities harvested enough country food to satisfy 100% of the total protein requirements of Nunavimmiut, and a majority of communities (including Aupaluk, Quaqtaq, Akulivik, Kangiqsujuaq, Salluit, and Inukjuak) harvested enough to satisfy 100% of energy requirements. The only place where >50% of nutritional need could not be met by local food harvest was for energy requirements in Kuujjuaq, where reported harvest accounted for approximately 45% of estimated energy requirements.

Multiplying total edible yield estimates from 1976-80 harvest in Nunavik (1.1 million kg; Table 3; [4]) by its estimated protein replacement value ($37 per kg) indicates that in the 1970's, Nunavik’s local food system annually harvested protein amounts that would cost more than $40 million/year to purchase in grocery stores.

A more recent published estimate of local food availability in Nunavik is provided by the [5] Table 5 summary of “Qanuippitaa? How are we?” Nunavik Inuit Health Survey conducted in the fall of 2004. Harvest and food frequency data can be related to one another by converting both into estimated food kg per person per year (Table 3 vs. 5; Fig. 12 [6]), although the comparability of these two particular surveys (Table 3; [4] vs. Table 5; [5]) is limited by differing methodologies, sampling durations, and that the results presented for the latter focus only on adult females. These limitations notwithstanding, multiplying total consumption estimates from 2004 in Nunavik (460,000 kg; Table 5; [5]) by its estimated protein replacement value ($37 per kg) indicates that in the 2000's, Nunavik’s local food system involves annual protein consumption that would cost more than $17 million/year to purchase in grocery stores.

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