Agriculture and Food Indicators Group, 2009)

Opportunities for Alternative Agriculture and Local Food Production in the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Region Olwen Bennett Wendell Chan Krista Larsen Brianna Thompson ENSC430 December 8th, 2010 1 Table of Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 3 Relationship to Sustainability ............................................................................................................................ 4 The Scope of the Project ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Goal and Objectives ................................................................................................................................................ 6 Methods ...................................................................................................................................................................... 7 The Current System ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Local Food Programs & Organizations ..................................................................................................................... 10 Farmer Support Programs ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Producers .............................................................................................................................................................................. 12 Retailers ................................................................................................................................................................................. 17 Consumers ............................................................................................................................................................................ 19 Challenges and Barriers to Local Food in the FAB ............................................................................................... 21 Initiatives and Recommendations ................................................................................................................. 23 Recommendations for the FAB .................................................................................................................................... 23 i. Food Co-operatives in the FAB ............................................................................................................................ 23 ii. Local Food Retailer Map and Potential for New Outlets .......................................................................... 29 Educational Tools .............................................................................................................................................................. 30 I. Consumer Awareness Pamphlet ......................................................................................................................... 30 ii. Alternative Agricultural Practices Catalogue ............................................................................................... 31 Recommendations for the ENSC 430 Group Next Year ........................................................................... 32 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................... 33 References .............................................................................................................................................................. 35 Appendix I (Alternative Agricultural Practices Catalogue) .................................................................. 38 Appendix II (Local Food Group Workshop – Itinerary and Synopsis) .............................................. 40 Appendix III (Examples of Functioning Co-ops) ........................................................................................ 46 Appendix IV (Consumer Awareness Pamphlet) ........................................................................................ 52 Appendix V (Interviews) .................................................................................................................................... 54 2 Introduction Large-scale conventional food production has contributed enormously to greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, soil degradation and energy consumption (Halburg et al, 2006). Furthermore, the Canadian globalized food market has created a dependency on foreign producers for cheap imports, eliminating the connection between consumers and local producers, and taking away consumer power to make informed food choices (Ibid.). This project adopts the definition for sustainable agriculture that is presented by The Food Project, which states that: “Sustainable Agriculture is the practice of growing food in a way that preserves and enhances the environment, provides economic opportunity and good health for individuals and communities, and connects people to the land around them. It generally avoids chemical pesticides and long-distance travel” (The Food Project, 2010). For the purpose of this project, sustainable agriculture is identified as the central goal in the food system and alternative agriculture encompasses the methods and processes used to achieve this goal. Since agricultural processes are essential for human survival in terms of food security, shifting to alternative means of food production can have an unprecedented impact on the sustainability of the environment, the economy and the society as a whole (Norse, 1994). Biosphere reserves foster a positive space for the promotion and improvement in the local and alternative food sector. The three main functions, which are mutually inclusive, are conservation, development and logistics (Frontenac Arch Biosphere, 2010). The current agricultural sector could benefit from these functions. Conservation is required to ensure that agricultural lands are not degraded and can be sustained for future generations. Development needs to occur in a manner that promotes the economy in a way that is mutually supportive of culture and the environment. Logistically, the biosphere designation promotes further research and educational tools that would improve the health of the agricultural sector. The Frontenac Arch Biosphere (FAB) was designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2002. It is a region located in the south eastern portion of Ontario that extends approximately 2700 square kilometres. This area connects the Algonquin Park region in Ontario with the Adirondack Park region in New York State. It provides an important corridor connecting wildlife habitats. The area is made up of islands and inlets of the Saint Lawrence River which play an important role for the migration of plants and animals. There is a vast diversity of natural habitat here including deep 3 channels, rocky shoals, submerged cliffs, broad reed beds, shallow wetlands and various forest regions as well as a significant amount of biological diversity present. The role of the biosphere is to promote the link between nature conservation and sustainable economic development that positively benefits the local communities (UNESCO, 2010). Specifically in the FAB region there is significant interest in the local food movement, due in part to a strong sense of community and environmental stewardship. It is because of this interest that there is large potential to expand the local food market and promote alternative farming practices over the long term throughout the FAB. The relationship between the FAB and the local food movement can be mutually beneficial, as the local food industry can be used as a tool to promote the identity of the region. The purpose of this project is to seek opportunities for promotion, improvement and expansion of the sustainability of the region through the agricultural sector and the local food movement. Relationship to Sustainability For the purpose of this project, “sustainability” will be defined in this way: “At an absolute minimum sustainability involves looking at issues and making decisions in which environmental, economic, and socio-cultural factors are considered together; this does not imply, however, trading off between these three elements... To be sustainable something must be simultaneously economically, socially and environmentally sustainable” (Maxey, 2006). Alternative agriculture can support environmental health, economic stability, and societal well- being. With growing population and increasing food demands, the need for global food security is vital (Ehrlich & Holdren, 1971). Self-sufficiency in food production can be both efficient and promote a strong sense of community, which contributes to the three pillars of sustainability (Feenstra, 1997). Local food production allows the consumer to regain their power of choice through increased awareness of the methods of production, and reduces the need for long distance transportation of food. Expanding the local food movement and the use of sustainable agricultural practices allows for increased community involvement through interactions between producers and consumers. This can enable producers and consumers to engage in environmental stewardship initiatives. For consumers, this may entail frequenting

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