Growers' study recommends national food policy

Thursday, September 1, 2011

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

Canada should have a national food policy that promotes locally grown food and regional food infrastructure, according to a study commissioned by the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association.

“Canada is the only G-20 country without a national food policy, “ says Brian Gilroy, chair of the association.

Provincially, the study recommends Ontario should reduce and streamline its regulations to make it less burdensome for farmers to be in compliance, or failing that, establish a support program that would assist farmers with compliance. The provincial government should also expand the definition of primary agriculture for property taxation purposes to include on-farm value-retention activities, and identify specialty crop areas that would protect fruit and vegetable production lands.

The report recommends that municipalities improve their planning processes to avoid or reduce fragmentation of farmland and to consider the long-term impact of development decisions on agricultural areas. BF