Alternative Avenues for Local Food Procurement in Ontario Schools
$25,000 (19 months)
ecosource.ca

Ecosource are working with hospitality programs in the Durham District School Board to increase the procurement of local and Greenbelt-grown food in schools. The project trains students and teachers in sourcing local food, encourages food literacy in school programming, and builds relationships with local farmers and other members of the food value chain in Durham.

Food and Farming, 2014 - 2015 Grant,

Durham Region Federation of Agriculture
$1,000 (1 year)
ofa.on.ca/about/county-federation-sites/durham.aspx

An evening of celebration of Durham’s agricultural roots, the Durham Farm Connections Celebrate Agricultural Gala was a night of delicious food, entertainment, a silent & live auction, highlighted by the Agricultural Awards: Farm Family Award, Spirit of Agriculture Award, and Leadership Award. The three awards were given to focus attention on the importance of farming as a vibrant and diverse business sector that has both families and organizations actively involved in their community. The event was hosted on October 16, 2014, at The Royal Ashburn Golf Club.

Food and Farming, 2014 - 2015 Grant,

Georgina Harvest Dinner
$1,500 (1 year)
ontarioculinary.com

The Georgina Harvest Dinner brings the community together to celebrate abundance in the Greenbelt by sharing a locally grown meals. Guests will discover what regional farmers are growing in our own backyard, while supporting local farmers and businesses. The funding goes towards sourcing and purchasing food from Greenbelt farmers. The event was held on September 20, 2014.

Food and Farming, 2014 - 2015 Grant,

 Dollars & Sense: Opportunities to Strengthen Southern Ontario’s Food System - 7.95 MB

Our newest study, produced in partnership with the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and the Metcalf Foundation, identifies ways Ontario can make changes to its food system to increase the supply of local food, create jobs, and support healthier lifestyles. 

Encompassing the first research of its kind in Canada, Dollars & Sense: Opportunities to Strengthen Southern Ontario's Food System looks at a number of scenarios. 

Environment, Food and Farming, Research, Local Food,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2015

 OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN SOUTHERN ONTARIO’S FOOD SYSTEM
Report Highlights Ways to Bring More Local Food to Province’s Dinner Tables

A groundbreaking study identifies ways Ontario can make changes to its food system to increase the supply of local food, create jobs, and support healthier lifestyles.

Encompassing the first research of its kind in Canada, the report, Dollars and Sense: Opportunities to Strengthen Southern Ontario’s Food System, produced in partnership by the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, the Metcalf Foundation, and the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, looks at a number of scenarios. Key findings include:

• Reducing the top 10 fruit and vegetable imports by 10 per cent and expanding local production would help create 3,400 jobs and boost the province’s GDP by nearly a quarter billion dollars.

• Ontarians adopting a healthier diet leads to higher consumer demand for fruits, vegetables, and some grains. For example, if consumers moved to an ideal level of oat consumption in their diets, 241 jobs would be created and the province’s GDP would grow by more than $14.2 million.
• Transitioning 10 per cent of food consumption to organic would improve farm incomes and reduce the environmental impact of food production, but require imports of many products unless local organic production was increased.

Environment, Food and Farming, Research, Local Food,

 Dollars & Sense: Opportunities to Strengthen Southern Ontario’s Food System - 
7.95 MB (Download for screen reading)
Dollars & Sense: Opportunities to Strengthen Southern Ontario's Food System -
9 MB (Download to print your own copy)

The Dollars & Sense: Opportunities to Strengthen Southern Ontario's Food System study identifies ways Ontario can make changes to its food system to increase the supply of local food, create jobs, and support healthier lifestyles.

Encompassing the first research of its kind in Canada, the report, produced in partnership with the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, the Metcalf Foundation, and the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, looks at a number of scenarios. Key findings include:

• Reducing the top 10 fruit and vegetable imports by 10 per cent and expanding local production would help create 3,400 jobs and boost the province’s GDP by nearly a quarter billion dollars.

• Ontarians adopting a healthier diet leads to higher consumer demand for fruits, vegetables, and some grains. For example, if consumers moved to an ideal level of oat consumption in their diets, 241 jobs would be created and the province’s GDP would grow by more than $14.2 million.
  
  
• Transitioning 10 per cent of food consumption to organic would improve farm incomes and reduce the environmental impact of food production, but require imports of many products unless local organic production was increased.

Economy, Food and Farming, Economy Research, Food and Farming Research, Research,

Agriculture by the Numbers Web Brochure

Download the two page brochure of our latest agriculture study to get the 101 on farming in the Greenbelt.

Released in October 2014, the Greenbelt Foundation study Agriculture by the Numbers captures the changes in agriculture from 2001 to 2011 and highlights the natural and locational advantages of farming in Ontario’s Greenbelt

Food and Farming, Food and Farming Research,

Emerald City: The Toronto cityscape rises above the Greenbelt, as seen from Mount Nemo, along the Bruce Trail, 64 km west of the GTA. 

Every Sunday from September 14th to October 17th we'll be publishing a Greenbelt-focused article by veteran Toronto Star journalist John Barber. The articles, which will first run in the Toronto Star on the Saturdays preceding our posts, cover a range of topics relevant to the Greenbelt as it exists today, and to the challenges it may face in the future. On the Wednesdays following each of Barber's articles, we'll be using his pieces as a conversation catalyst in an evening Twitter Party from 8pm to 9pm.

Environment, Economy, Food and Farming, Growth and Planning,

Our Annual Reports are published in full on our Annual Reports page

Our 2013/14 Annual Report was released earlier this month. The Report, which highlights the work of both the Greenbelt Fund and the Greenbelt Foundation, demonstrates that our 9th year has been a tale of growth and success.

The growth we are seeing with the Greenbelt in our urban river valleys is perhaps one of the greatest highlights of this year. Throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area we are seeing the protection of the world’s largest greenbelt become even more far-reaching and holistic than ever. Every single jurisdiction in talks about including their urban river valleys has continued to push forward.

We are also energized by the ongoing successes of our grantees. One of my favourite stats from this year’s report: for every $1 invested by the Fund, our grantees increase local food sales by $7. 

Environment, Economy, Food and Farming, Growth and Planning,

How can we make the process easier for farmers to get the necessary stamp of approval for on-farm developments?

That question formed the basis of recent workshop we hosted in collaboration with the Durham Region and the Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance.

The September 26^th event, “Streamlining the processes for agricultural applications to municipalities and Conservation Authorities (CAs)”, was well attended by farmers, representatives from a range of municipal departments, CA representatives, and staff from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). The result was productive information sharing among diverse stakeholders about challenges and opportunities as well as ways to simplify and otherwise improve processes.

Food and Farming, Research,