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Home My WebLink AboutCAO 05-20_Cly. �f DICKERING Report to Council Report Number: CAO 05-20 Date: August 24, 2020 From: Fiaz Jadoon Director, Economic Development & Strategic Projects Subject: Engagement Process for Pickering Local Food Strategy - File: D-1500-001 Recommendation: 1. That Council receive report CAO 05-20 regarding the engagement process for a local food strategy in the City of Pickering for information; and, 2. That the appropriate officials of the City of Pickering take necessary actions as indicated in this report. Executive Summary: The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs established the Local Food Act 2013 to help foster successful and resilient local food economies and systems in Ontario. The Act aims to increase awareness of local food in Ontario by supporting its growth and development. Durham Region Economic Development staff support the local food sector through the promotion of agricultural communities, supporting business retention and expansion plans, and updating the public on projects taking place in rural areas of the region. In 2018, the Region's Agriculture & Rural Affairs team conducted a Local Food Business Retention & Expansion (BR+E) survey in partnership with the Durham Farm Fresh Marketing Association, the Durham Workforce Authority (DWA), and the Durham Region Federation of Agriculture. The project directly supported the growing local food sector by identifying opportunities and challenges for producers and suppliers. From distributors to food service providers, over 60 local food businesses participated in the survey. Survey responses indicated that businesses in Pickering and neighbouring municipalities are engaged. However, the survey indicated challenges with the local industry infrastructure in Durham Region, specifically in regards to the lack of food hubs, distribution networks and cold storage facilities. From the survey, 3 key themes were identified as part of an action plan: regulations and approvals, engagement & education, and infrastructure support. Recognizing the role of a lower -tier municipality in supporting locally grown produce and addressing the key themes identified by the Region's BR+E survey, City Economic Development staff have outlined an engagement process for a potential local food strategy. It includes: collaborating with Regional staff to identify Pickering's agricultural profile, consulting with Regional staff and existing organizations to understand farming opportunities in Pickering; consulting with Pickering's existing farm operators, landowners and broader agricultural community to recognize CAO 05-20 August 24, 2020 Subject: Engagement Process for Pickering Local Food Strategy Page 2 key challenges and opportunities for growth in the local food sector; and collaborating with City Development staff to identify existing lands within the community that permit agricultural uses. The engagement process requires significant support from Regional staff and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), in providing an overview of Pickering's existing agricultural sector and food value chain. Financial Implications: Not applicable. Discussion: Ontario's local food industry is a major contributor to the Province's economy. The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs established the Local Food Act 2013 to help foster successful and resilient local food economies and systems in Ontario, while increasing awareness of local food and supporting its growth. The legislation is designed to help build Ontario's economy and create more jobs in the agri-food sector by making more local food available throughout the province. In part, the Act includes the following initiatives: • encouraging more local food use across the broader public sector; • helping increase access, improve food literacy, and encourage increased use of local food by public sector organizations; • proclaiming the first week of June each year as Local Food Week; • amending the Taxation Act, 2007 to create a non-refundable tax credit of 25 per cent for farmers who donate their agricultural products to eligible community food programs such as food banks; and • requiring the Minister to prepare an annual report that summarizes the government's activities in respect to local food. Pickering has approximately 5,000 hectares (over 12,000 acres) of land designated for agricultural uses, which includes existing farms producing a wide variety of cash crops, as well as fruits, vegetables, florals, trees and livestock. In collaboration with Durham Region's agriculture & rural affairs team, economic development staff work continuously to improve the business infrastructure of our agricultural community and local food sector, to ensure it has the tools needed to drive successful farming operations. The key objectives of Durham Region's economic development team with respect to the agriculture and rural affairs portfolio are to: • support the agricultural community by partnering in programs that promote the agricultural industry; • support the rural community by promoting local business retention and expansion, as well as new investment opportunities; and • inform the public about the various industry and business activities and projects taking place in the rural areas of the region. CAO 05-20 August 24, 2020 Subject: Engagement Process for Pickering Local Food Strategy Page 3 To understand the opportunities and challenges facing the growing local food sector, in 2018 the Region conducted the Local Food Business Retention & Expansion (BR+E) project in cooperation with Durham Farm Fresh Marketing Association and the Durham Workforce Authority (DWA). Support was also provided by the Durham Agricultural Advisory Committee (DAAC) and Durham Region Federation of Agriculture. The goal of the project was to strengthen the local food value chain by identifying the opportunities, desires and limitations for both producers and suppliers, creating a system -wide approach for accessing local food, supporting local food agri-businesses and enhancing food literacy. Over 60 local food businesses across Durham Region participated in the BR+E survey, spanning multiple components of the local food value chain including primary producers, distributors/wholesalers, food manufacturers, food service providers, and support organizations. Over 16 Pickering businesses were contacted, with 2 agreeing to participate in the BR+E survey interviews. Survey responses indicate that businesses are engaged, healthy and positive. However, Durham Region is facing some challenges related to local food infrastructure, which includes a lack of food hubs, distribution networks, abattoirs and cold storage facilities. While there has been a rise in interest from consumers for locally sourced food and value-added agriculture products, there appears to be challenges in Durham Region, and other regions across Ontario, to get local food products from farms into restaurants, grocery stores, culinary tourism events, festivals and attractions. This challenge can be attributed to the lack of distribution and management systems currently in place throughout various regions, including Durham. Following these responses, 3 priority themes were identified in the BR+E project to serve as a foundation for the local food goals and action plan: regulations and approvals, engagement and education, and infrastructure support. To build on this action plan and further support local food, City Economic Development staff have outlined an engagement process for a potential local food strategy in Pickering. It includes: • collaborating with Regional staff to identify Pickering's agricultural profile including but not limited to: total number of existing farming operations (i.e. primary producers), service providers, distributors and food processors; • consulting with Regional staff and existing organizations including the Durham Agricultural Advisory Committee (DAAC), Durham Farm Fresh Marketing Organization and other related organizations to understand farming opportunities in Pickering (i.e. abattoirs, distribution networks, vertical farming, green houses, etc.); • consult with Pickering's existing farm operators, landowners and broader agricultural community to understand key challenges and opportunities for growth in the local food sector; and • collaborating with City Development staff to develop an inventory of all existing land parcels zoned for permitted uses in agriculture. Following the completion of the above mentioned engagement process, in collaboration with the Region of Durham and appropriate stakeholders, staff will work towards building a work program for a local food strategy, which will be brought before Council. CAO 05-20 August 24, 2020 Subject: Engagement Process for Pickering Local Food Strategy Page 4 Prepared By: /641\ Aneesa Haniff Senior Economic Development Officer AH:ah Approved/Endorsed By: Fiaz Jadoon, Director, Economic Development & Strategic Projects Recommended for the consideration of Pickering City Council Marisa Carpino, M.A. Interim Chief Administrative Officer