Could Toronto Provide 10% of its Fresh Vegetable Requirements from Within its Own Boundaries? Part II, Policy Supports and Program Design

Rod Macrae,Janet Oswald,Eric Gallant,James Kuhns,Marc Michalak,Martin Danyluk,Joe Nar,Penny Kaill-Vinish,Abra Snider,Gerda Wekerle,Lauren Baker,Russ Christianson,Sima Patel

doi:10.5304/jafscd.2012.022.002

Abstract

Urban agriculture in Toronto largely focuses on self-provisioning, but it could be scaled up significantly. Our findings in an earlier paper indicate that the supply of land is not an insurmountable barrier. Rather, other more subtle impediments exist, including taxation systems and structures that assume agriculture is a strictly rural activity; inadequate sharing of knowledge among urban producers; limited access to soil, water, and seeds; and the lack of incentives to attract landowners and foundations to provide financial or in-kind support.The potential exists to develop urban agriculture so that it supplies 10% of the city's commercial demand for fresh vegetables. Scaling up to this level requires significant policy and program initiatives in five key areas: Increasing urban growers' access to spaces for production; putting in place the physical infrastructure and resources for agriculture; integrating local food production into the food supply chain; creating systems for sharing knowledge; and creating new models for governance, coordination, and financing. Our recommendations, while focusing on Toronto, offer lessons for those currently attempting to strengthen urban agriculture in other cities.

Highlights

As is true for many cities in North America, food production in Toronto is primarily an informal provisioning and recreational activity
The study concluded that Toronto required 5,725 acres (2,317 ha) of food production area to meet 10% of current consumption requirements
We reviewed primary documents relevant to Toronto and secondary literature from other jurisdictions, conducted interviews with key informants, and carried out a web-based survey3 of those on the mailing list of the Toronto Urban Growers (TUG) network, receiving more than 30 responses, a response rate of 45%

Summary

Introduction

As is true for many cities in North America, food production in Toronto is primarily an informal provisioning and recreational activity. Establishing production sites in hydroelectric corridors has tax revenue implications for the city of Toronto, since it results in a lower tax rate relative to the standard corridor rate (Danyluk, 2009) Given these potential complexities, implementing land use designation and tax changes through a coordinating and facilitating body (see discussion of governance below) to help with the processing of applications could make the process more efficient and affordable for participating landowners. The potential environmental benefits of local production will be realized only with careful attention to minimizing transport with small vehicles, which emit more carbon dioxide per unit of food moved than large trucks, trains, or ships (Edward-Jones et al, 2008).Toronto is a major destination for California and Florida vegetables, most of them trucked This means that a municipal and provincial strategy must intervene in supply-chain dynamics in ways that are not traditional for Canadian governments.

Limitations for Toronto

Findings

Conclusion