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) 826-6818jaya.james@ontario.ca

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