A Primer on Food System Planning in A Primer on Food System Planning in CanadaCanada

Jim Hiley, P.Ag. and Candace Vanin, Jim Hiley, P.Ag. and Candace Vanin, P.Ag.P.Ag.

Land Use Decision Support (LUDS) Land Use Decision Support (LUDS) UnitUnit

Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Definition of TermsDefinition of Terms

* Food systemFood system* PlanningPlanning* CanadaCanada

Definition of Terms – Food SystemDefinition of Terms – Food System

* ConsumersConsumers* Retailers/WholesalersRetailers/Wholesalers* ProcessorsProcessors* Producers (farmers!)Producers (farmers!)

Definition of Terms – Scope of the Food Definition of Terms – Scope of the Food SystemSystem

* For example, the Edmonton metropolitan For example, the Edmonton metropolitan region: region:

PeoplePeople Dollars/yr.Dollars/yr.* ConsumersConsumers 1 million1 million $2 billion$2 billion* Retailers/WholesalersRetailers/Wholesalers 3000 ‘ish3000 ‘ish see abovesee above* ProcessorsProcessors 7000 ‘ish7000 ‘ish $5 billion$5 billion* Producers (farmers!)Producers (farmers!) 500 ‘ish500 ‘ish $0.5 billion$0.5 billion

Definition of Terms - PlanningDefinition of Terms - Planning

* FormalFormal* provinces have jurisdiction for land use planningprovinces have jurisdiction for land use planning* established policies and procedures through legislationestablished policies and procedures through legislation* many responsibilities delegated to lower tier many responsibilities delegated to lower tier governmentsgovernments

* InformalInformal* corporate business models (e.g., siting a Walmart store)corporate business models (e.g., siting a Walmart store)* issue-based topics (e.g., watershed groups, powerline issue-based topics (e.g., watershed groups, powerline lobbies)lobbies)* public infrastructure investments (e.g., transportation)public infrastructure investments (e.g., transportation)

Definition of Terms – Definition of Terms – (how)(how) CanadaCanada (works)(works)

* Recognize decisions rest with local decision makersRecognize decisions rest with local decision makers* Respect planning jurisdictions, communities of Respect planning jurisdictions, communities of practicepractice* Encourage cooperation amongst stakeholdersEncourage cooperation amongst stakeholders* Use a comprehensive approach (‘one size does not Use a comprehensive approach (‘one size does not fit all’)fit all’)* Recognize and respect a community’s ‘Sense of Recognize and respect a community’s ‘Sense of Place’ Place’

Why Plan for the Food System in Canada?Why Plan for the Food System in Canada?

* It is a It is a cornerstonecornerstone of sustainable development: of sustainable development: SocietySociety EconomyEconomy EnvironmentEnvironment

* ConsumersConsumers healthhealth urbanurban waste mgt.waste mgt.* Retailers/WholesalersRetailers/Wholesalers equityequity urban urban energy energy useuse* ProcessorsProcessors qualityquality urban/ruralurban/rural waste mgt.waste mgt.* Producers (farmers!)Producers (farmers!) stabilitystability rural rural stewardshipstewardship

If you don’t plan for the food system, here’s what happens:If you don’t plan for the food system, here’s what happens: Different types of farmersDifferent types of farmers are forced to speculate on escalating land prices are forced to speculate on escalating land prices

andand bid against each other & other users inbid against each other & other users in energyenergy, transportation, recreationrecreation, wildlifewildlife, urban growthurban growth, andand rural sprawlrural sprawl for resources offor resources of varying qualityvarying quality..

Five years ago in the central part of the Calgary-Edmonton Five years ago in the central part of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor,Corridor,

60%60% of farm receipts came from 9 rural neighbourhoods of farm receipts came from 9 rural neighbourhoods facing urban/industrial expansion and recreation/residential facing urban/industrial expansion and recreation/residential

development.development.

Source: Hiley, McNeil and Walker. June, 2004. Agricultural production profiles of County Neighbourhoods within Red Source: Hiley, McNeil and Walker. June, 2004. Agricultural production profiles of County Neighbourhoods within Red Deer County, Alberta. Deer County, Alberta.

And for the And for the pastpast 4040 yearsyears in B.C.’s Lower Fraser in B.C.’s Lower Fraser Valley, Valley,

farmers have adjusted production to keep viable farmers have adjusted production to keep viable farms.farms.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001

Tree Fruitsand Nuts

NurseryProducts

FieldVegetables

Berries andGrapes

AnnualCrops

Tame Hayand Fodder

Source: Hiley. forthcoming. Monitoring changes in agricultural production for land use planning in the City of Source: Hiley. forthcoming. Monitoring changes in agricultural production for land use planning in the City of Abbotsford, British Columbia. Graph showing percentage distribution of crops on cultivated land, 1961 to 2001. Abbotsford, British Columbia. Graph showing percentage distribution of crops on cultivated land, 1961 to 2001. Source: Statistics Canada Census of Agriculture custom databases from 1961 to 2001, inclusive.Source: Statistics Canada Census of Agriculture custom databases from 1961 to 2001, inclusive.

Local residents & politicians Local residents & politicians cancan find out how the find out how the food system promotes sustainable development in food system promotes sustainable development in

their area …their area …

Source: J. Hiley et al. Dec. 2001. Leduc County Agricultural Land Evaluation Study. Map showing distribution of Source: J. Hiley et al. Dec. 2001. Leduc County Agricultural Land Evaluation Study. Map showing distribution of farms by type within rural neighbourhoods of the County using 1996 Statistics Canada custom Census of Agriculture farms by type within rural neighbourhoods of the County using 1996 Statistics Canada custom Census of Agriculture

database. database.

and, create strategies toand, create strategies to improveimprove thethe foodfood systemsystem,, like the examples already in place within Canada!like the examples already in place within Canada!

Sources: Red Deer County. http://www.reddeercounty.ab.ca/upload/AVSReport_Final_LQ.pdf.; and, City of Richmond, Sources: Red Deer County. http://www.reddeercounty.ab.ca/upload/AVSReport_Final_LQ.pdf.; and, City of Richmond, B.C. http://www.city.richmond.bc.ca/planning/agriculture/viability/viability_index.htmB.C. http://www.city.richmond.bc.ca/planning/agriculture/viability/viability_index.htm

Sources: Canadian Institute of Planners. http://www.wpc2006.com/Sources: Canadian Institute of Planners. http://www.wpc2006.com/

Want to learn more? The World Planners Want to learn more? The World Planners Congress will present Congress will present manymany sessions on sessions on

food system planning!food system planning!