Ontario’s Local Food Strategy Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable March 13, 2014.
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Transcript of Ontario’s Local Food Strategy Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable March 13, 2014.
Ontario’s Local Food Strategy
Waterloo Region Food System RoundtableMarch 13, 2014
Ontario : A Long-Standing Local Food Champion
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$116M InvestedSince 2003/04
Business Advisory Services
Marketing and
Promotion
Funding Programs
Research/ Knowledge
Transfer
Industry Capacity Building
Value Chain Development
But, Looking for New Opportunities
• In 2012, stakeholder roundtables identified a number of local food challenges and opportunities, including:– increased education for consumers and industry;– regional aggregation, distribution and other infrastructure;– funding/access to capital;– collaboration and value chain development;– regional flexibility to define / market “local”;– public sector leadership in procurement.
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• Their input was used to develop a multi-pronged local food strategy to help celebrate, support and promote local food.
Ontario’s Local Food Strategy
• VISION: Ontario consumers enjoy local food more often – and in more places.
• MISSION: Increasing the consumption of local food in Ontario.
• GOALS:– Ontario consumers are aware of, value and
choose more local foods.– Local food is identifiable and widely available
through a range of distribution channels.– Ontario’s agri-food sector is competitive,
productive and responsive to consumer demand.
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New Initiatives Building on Past Successes
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Increasing consumption of local food
Consumers are aware of,
value and choose local
food
Local food is identifiable and widely available
Agri-food sector is
competitive, productive and
responsive
• Local Food Act, 2013• Foodland Ontario• Agri-food Education
• Local Food Fund• Local Food Research• Ministry Advisory Services• Premier’s Awards for Innovation
• Prov. Local Food Procurement Policy
• Provincial Designations• Best Practices Guide for
municipalities• Broader Public Sector
Initiatives• Direct Farm Marketing &
Farmers’ Markets• Retailer Awards
Bolded items are new.
Local Food Act, 2013• Key pillar of the Local Food Strategy is the Local Food Act, 2013 –
introduced in March 2013 and passed unanimously in November.
• The Local Food Act, 2013 will:– require the Minister to set voluntary/aspirational goals and targets
around food literacy, access to local food and increased use of local food by public sector organizations – in consultation with stakeholders;
– enable the province to work with public sector organizations on goals and targets, and share information on progress and results;
– require the government to produce an annual local food report;– proclaim a “Local Food Week”, beginning the first Monday in June;– create a tax credit of 25 per cent for farmers for donations of
agricultural products to eligible community food programs.
• Local food is defined as food produced or harvested in Ontario, including forest and freshwater food, and food made in Ontario if they include ingredients produced or harvested in Ontario.
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Local Food Fund
• The Local Food Fund was launched in October 2013, as part of a $30 million, 3-year investment to support innovative projects that increase awareness, access and sales of local food.
• The Local Food Fund supports projects in four categories:
: Regional and Local Food Networks;
: Enhanced Technologies, Capacity and/or Minor Capital;
: Research and Best Practices; and
: Education, Marketing and Outreach.
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• The Fund is designed to encourage collaboration and partnerships, and supports a step-wise approach by allowing access to funds for planning and implementation (which enhances long-term project sustainability).
Other Elements of the Local Food Strategy
Local Food Procurement Policy
Ministries and provincial agencies must consider local food when making food purchases under $25,000.
Provincial DesignationConsultations held in Fall 2013 to determine interest in new ways of promoting local food on basis of origin, production method and/or product characteristic. Government is currently reviewing and analyzing input.
Local Food Best Practices Guide for Municipalities
Association of Municipalities of Ontario led the development of a resource to share best practices and support decision-making on local food. Online at www.omkn.ca/Best-Practices/Beneficial-Reports.aspx.
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Thank You!
Contact:
Jaya James, Policy AdvisorEconomic Development Policy BranchMinistry of Agriculture and Food/ Ministry of Rural Affairs(519) [email protected]
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