Near-urban Agriculture: Challenges & Opportunities Countryside Workshop November 27, 2007 Town of East Gwillimbury Elbert van Donkersgoed P. Ag. ( Hon.) Executive Director Greater Toronto Area Agricultural Action Committee
Outline 1. Challenges/opportunities of near-urban agriculture 2. The market for local food 3. Rethinking the Countryside’s Future 4. The market for local food Near-urban Agriculture 2
The Challenges faced by Near- urban Agriculture • 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 • Problems with moving equipment on congested roads — every road a commuter road • Trespassers • No maintenance of infrastructure (water, drainage) • Protected farmland — BUT Near-urban Agriculture 3
The Advantages of Near-urban Agriculture There is more change happening in near-urban agriculture than in heartland agriculture • Value of production per acre is higher • 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 — demand is not being met • A large population with a growing interest in local food and concern about food miles • More opportunity agri-tourism • More opportunity culinary tourism, locality food Near-urban Agriculture 4
Near-urban production per acre is higher 1 6 0 0 1 4 0 0 Dollars per Acre 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 8 0 0 6 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 0 0 Ontario Durham York Peel Halton Near-urban Agriculture 5
Near-urban production per acre is higher 1 6 0 0 1 4 0 0 Dollars per Acre 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 8 0 0 6 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 0 0 Ontario GTA Durham York Peel Halton Near-urban Agriculture 6
Importance of the Food Sector to the Economy • Food Industry is Canada’s & Toronto’s 2nd largest manufacturing sector • Over $16 Billion of Sales in Toronto alone • Directly employs over 50,000 people in GTA who would not readily find employment elsewhere • 12% of the Industrial Workforce • Growth of more than 5% per annum • Agriculture is among the highest productivity gains of all economic sectors Near-urban Agriculture 7
Ontario is food import dependent — growing gap 16 Exports 14 Imports 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Near-urban Agriculture 8 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2202 2004 2006
The Market for Locally Grown Food Ipsos- Reid, November 2006
What would you say are the benefits of buying locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables? 72 Help your local economy 71 73 Supports family farmers 70 54 Taste better 53 52 Are cheaper 50 46 Not genetically modified 48 48 Healthier 46 44 No chemical/synthetic pesticides 45 43 Safer 44 43 Environmentally friendly 43 41 Preserves green belts 41 0 20 40 60 80 Near-urban Agriculture 10 Canada Ontario
When buying food in the past six months, how often did you buy locally grown food when it was available ? 45 Always/Ususally 42 38 Sometimes 38 16 Rarely/Never 20 0 10 20 30 40 50 Canada Ontario Near-urban Agriculture 11
Rethinking the Near-urban Countryside's Future
1. New Developments in Locally Grown Food • Farm Fresh brochures/listings on municipal websites • Savour Ontario Trade — B-to-B, culinary • Edible Toronto launched • World Food Day — celebration led by Alphabet City — mayor read proclamation • Climate Change Action Plan – Enviro-Food Working Group • Food Strategy for Toronto – The State of Toronto’s Food • Speed dating at the Royal • GTA AAC at the Royal Near-urban Agriculture 13
14 Near-urban Agriculture
1. New Developments in Locally Grown Food • Homegrown Ontario — branding Ontario meat – Alliance = Ontario Pork, Ontario Veal Association and the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency • Agricultural Working Group – Population profile = food demand profile • Update of the GTA Agricultural Profile — 2006 Census • BMPs for Culinary Tourism • Producing and Marketing Ethnic Food, Nov 27-29 • TORC Forums: Capturing Local Food Opportunities, December 4 & 6 • Locality food?? • Frequent buyers loyalty card?? Near-urban Agriculture 15
2. Locally Grown as Community Economic Development • Pent up consumer demand for locally grown • It is not enough to create a venue for farmers • Farmers’ markets and farm shops need a festive and cultural atmosphere to break away from the “cheap food “past Near-urban Agriculture 16
17 Near-urban Agriculture
18 Near-urban Agriculture
3. Ethnic & Cultural Diversity = Opportunity • Producing and Marketing Ethnic Food, Nov 27-29 – New Markets, New Products, New Farmers – University of Guelph, FarmStart, Ontario Institute of Agrologists, GTA AaC – Bill Sciarappa, Extension Specialist for Ethnic Growers, Rutgers • Encouraging researchers to explore the market for ethnic and culturally diverse food • TRCA, Rouge Park considering some of their land for agriculture • FarmlandLink, MarketLink Near-urban Agriculture 19
3. Immigrants as % of Total Near-urban Agriculture 20
4. Small Farm Enterprise Zones Issue/Opportunity – Average size of farms embedded in the LOCAL food system are smaller, more divers and produce more per acre Action – Encourage smaller farms – Modify 100 acre minimum – Small farm enterprise zones Near-urban Agriculture 21
5. Taxation of On-farm Value- added Activities • Recognize that getting an agricultural product market ready requires much more than primary production • What has to be done to access the big box store regional distribution system: shelf ready • Necessary post harvest handling — take out the field heat • Two regions in the GTA have moderated farm property tax rates Near-urban Agriculture 22
6. Mixed Use Agricultural Zones Issue/Opportunity – Primary agricultural production on many existing farm parcels no longer sustains a farm family – Raw material production does not sustain a countryside economy Action – Need to allow a greater variety of economic development on a farm to support a family—Primary production by itself is not enough – Encourage a full range of preparing product for market – Encourage a greater mix of uses on existing farms – Cluster developments Near-urban Agriculture 23
24 Near-urban Agriculture
7. Rethink Agriculture’s Relationship to Environment Issue/Opportunity – Environmental Farm Plans – Nutrient management Act – Sourced Water Protection Act – Greenbelt Act – Provincial Policy Statement (planning) – Society wants more environmental initiatives — legislating to get them but most money spent on one- time changes — cost share Near-urban Agriculture 25
7. Rethink Agriculture’s Relationship to Environment • Entry Level Stewardship in the UK • Requires a basic level of environmental management • Payment of £30 per hectare, per year across the whole farm • Over 50 options to choose from to cover all farming types • Five year agreements with automatic payments sent out every six months. • Farm Environmental Record • Whole farm, annual payment, voluntary • Followed by Higher Level Stewardship Near-urban Agriculture 26
http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/schemes/ els/handbook/default.htm Near-urban Agriculture 27
7. Rethink Agriculture’s Relationship to Environment • Charlie Huntersmart • Farm manager, College Farm • Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester • 3,000 acres College Farm Near-urban Agriculture 28
8. Enjoying Nature and Taking Home its Abundance Near-urban Agriculture 29
Dominick Ackland, Manager Near-urban Agriculture 30
31 Near-urban Agriculture
32 Near-urban Agriculture
33 Near-urban Agriculture
34 Near-urban Agriculture
35 Near-urban Agriculture
The Market for Locally Grown Food Environics 2007 Survey
Q22) How often do you buy locally grown fruits, vegetables, or meats? Do you buy them… Every 2-3 weeks, 17% Monthly, 12% Key Differences: • Women (57%) are more likely than men (51%) to buy locally grown fruits, Less often, vegetables or meats at least weekly. 11% • Post grads (62%) are more likely than those with high school or less (50%) to Never, 3% buy them at least once a week. • Those with unaided awareness of the Greenbelt (62%) and those who live in the Greenbelt (58%) are more likely to Once a week, say they buy locally grown fruits, 43% vegetables or meats at least weekly. More than • Regionally, those in Toronto (60%) are once a week, the most likely to say they buy them at 12% least weekly. Why never? (n= 21) 2007 Not offered at grocery 29 Not convenient 21 Don't know/care if it is 12 Too expensive 8 Get at 8 Don't know 25 Near-urban Agriculture 37
Recommend
More recommend
