Enhancing Near-urban Agriculture The GTA Agricultural Action Plan

1. Enhancing Near-urban AgricultureThe GTA Agricultural Action Plan York/South Simcoe Agricultural Labour Market Symposium Training & Adjustment Board January 27, 2007 Elbert van Donkersgoed P. Ag. (Hon.) Executive Director Greater Toronto Area Agricultural Action Committee

3. Whatdrove the creation of the GTA AAP?

4. Treadmill of Ever-lower Prices

5. A Food Chain Designed to Serve the Needs of ….

6. The Challenges faced by Near-urban Agriculture • Problems with moving equipment on congested roads • Complaints from non-farm residents about farm practices • Lack of affordable land to purchase • Shortages of rental land • Loss of local farm services • Loss of farm community • Lack of local government support for near-urban • Trespassers (Bunce & Maurer 2005)

7. Enhancing Near-urban Agriculture There is more change happening in near-urban agriculture than in heartland agriculture • Average farm size is smaller, more divers • More opportunity for direct sales, farm shops and pick-your-own operations • Shorter distance to a growing number of farmers’ markets in Metro Ontario • More opportunity for agri-tourism • More opportunity for decentralized, energy self-sufficiency • Ontario is a net importer of food • A large population with a growing interest in local food and concern about food miles • Production per acre is higher

8. Importance of the Food Sector to the Economy • Food Industry is Canada’s second largest manufacturing sector, Toronto’s largest • Over $16 Billion of Sales in Toronto alone • Directly employs over 50,000 people who would not readily find employment elsewhere • 12% of the Industrial Workforce • Growth of more than 5% per annum

9. Ontario Import Dependent

10. When buying food in the past six months, how often did you buy locally grown food when it was available?

11. Production per acre higherthan the Provincial Average

12. Major Steps To-date • Plan completed in 2005 • Action Committee established, September 2005 • Executive Director appointed, May 2006 • Office created by Regions through the Toronto & Region Conservation Authority at Black Creek Pioneer Village

13. The Action Plan • 37 Actions • In 3 major themes • Economic development • Education & marketing • Land use policy • Plus a theme on accountability & responsibility • Co-ownership by the many stakeholders involved

14. Eight Priority Actions • Dedicated agricultural economic development capability at the municipalities • Reform of farmland and value-added taxation • Adapt to cultural diversity and demographic realities • Assist in farm succession; support new farmers • PPS and Official Plan changes that better protect agriculture • Protect natural areas while benefiting the landowner • Compatible secondary uses on the farm • Programs that keep roads safe for farmers

15. Enhanced Local Food Municipal economic development capability Cultural diversity New farmers Official Plan changes Protect nature so the landowner benefits Commodity Agriculture Farmland and value-added taxation Farm succession New farmers Secondary uses Keep roads safe Protect nature so the landowner benefits Two major Streams of Action

16. Enhanced Local Food Municipal economic development capability Toolkit for Near-urban Agriculture Smaller farms Cultural diversity Actions that strengthen New farmers Protect nature so the landowner benefits (EG&S) Communicate Commodity Agriculture Farm succession Toolkit for Near-urban Agriculture Secondary uses Energy self-sufficiency Keep roads safe Farmland and value-added taxation New farmers Protect nature so the landowner benefits Communicate Work Plan

17. Growing Your Opportunities • OMAFRA lead • Designed for near-urban agriculture • Halton-Peel held, Peterborough planned • Farm succession, emerging opportunities, support available • Agricultural Management Institute • Canadian Agricultural Skills Service • Farm business Advisory Services • Oak Ridges Moraine Environmental Enhancement Program • Greenbelt Farm Stewardship Program • Premier’s Award for Agri-food Innovation Excellence

18. Economic Development Capability • Farm Fresh maps • Websites • Farmers’ markets • Stewardship funding programs • Conservation authority support • OMAFRA info centres (racks) • Farm connections elementary program • Career tours (Gr 10) • Workshop for PD day for teachers • Feasibility: biodiesel, biodigesters

19. Actions that Strengthen the Local Food System • Exhibit at Royal Agricultural Winter Fair • Local food event at the Royal, Nov 9 • Local food conference, November 25 • Local food dinner - GTA AAC Annual Meeting, March • Local food network event, April • Local Food Newsletter, Spring • Local food email list, daily • www.gtalocalfood.ca

20. Cultural Diversity & Demographic Realities • Culture-based food and experience preferences • 53% of Markham not born in Canada • Planners/economic developers preparing GTA population profile • Working group will convene to analyze • TRCA, Mitchell, Farm Start are exploring initiatives

21. Toolkit for Near-urban Agriculture • Small farm enterprise zones • Near-urban farms focused on local consumption can be smaller • Farms linked to local food system create greater economic spin-offs • Energy production • Farms can produce energy from renewable resources • Energy self-sufficiency be a permitted use in agricultural and rural zones • Mixed-use countryside economic development • Commodity agriculture on existing parcels no longer sustains a farm family • Wider diversity of uses needed

23. Farmers’ Markets & Farm Shops as Economic Development There’s a pent up consumer demand for farmer’s markets & farm shops Challenge? It is not enough to create a venue for a farm market • Markets need a festive and cultural atmosphere to break away from the “cheap food “past • Local wines, local music • Culture & the experience of food

25. Protect Nature so the Landowner Benefits • Environmental goods and services • Cost share approach lacks long-term stewardship • Whole farm annual payments for real services delivered

27. Local Food as the Gateway to Experiencing Nature

28. International Food Processing and Innovation Centre

29. International Food Processing and Innovation Centre • Four Distinctive Functions: • The Innovation and Commercialization Centre • Small Business Development Centre • Food Production Mall • IFPIC Association

30. International Food Processing and Innovation Centre