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Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario

Increasing Organic Production in the Greenbelt through Farmer-to-Farmer Training and Support

Grants Made:

$150,000 - June 25, 2007

Since 2005, organic farming and production in Ontario have grown by 1.6% and 8% respectively, In fact, Ontario houses 497 certified organic farmers, which is close to 14% of Canada’s organic farmers.

http://efao.ca

The Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO) is an organization established in 1979 to promote the advancement and understanding of ecological agricultural methods.

The EFAO, recognizing an opportunity to enhance farmers’ profits while strengthening their commitment to the land through sustainable organic practice, ushers in an era of farmer-to-farmer training and support. This project encourages farmers in the Greenbelt to benefit from market trends, and focuses on current courses, workshops, farm tours, and a structured mentorship program, which allows established farmers to share their knowledge with newly interested organic farmers.

 

The Greenbelt Foundation is

  • Enhancing Farmers’ Markets, increasing sales for farmers in the Greenbelt and beyond

  • Funding policy changes to encourage more local food to be sold in Durham

  • Securing local food procurement commitments for Peel schools, City of Toronto, City of Markham and others

  • Creating Greenbeltfresh.ca, the leading electronic marketplace to source local, Greenbelt foods from over 600 producers

  • Engaging with over 170 million Ontarians directly through our marketing, events and communications activities

  • Participating strategically in growing the Greenbelt by working with Toronto, Peel, Halton, and Guelph

  • Funding research and analysis on greenbelts around the globe which concluded that Ontario’s Greenbelt is the most robust in the world, with a strong legal and policy framework

  • Supporting interested Greenbelt Farmers to Go Organic

  • Engaged Hamilton schools to switch to Greenbelt food for their students

  • Hosted the first ever Global Greenbelts Conference in Toronto in March 2011 with speakers and delegates from over nine countries

  • Contributing to greater sales of Greenbelt wines at the LCBO

  • Increasing amount of Greenbelt food in food share program 140%

  • Funding the Holland Marsh Growers’ transition from an export, commodity focus to one that serves the local market with value- added products

  • Assisting in designing new policies to protect Lake Simcoe through timely research

  • Hosting the successful Tour de Greenbelt to promote Ontario’s Greenbelt as a tourism destination

  • Convincing Peel school boards to buy Greenbelt food for students

  • Bridging farming and hiking interests to acknowledge environmental progress by farmers

  • Contributing $2.65 million to Greenbelt farmers to improve their operations (leveraging millions of dollars from federal sources), and to employ the opportunities of the Green Energy Act

  • Supporting the creation of new multi-cultural crops and development of ethnic local food guides in Toronto and York Region

  • Bringing thousands of Ontarians out into the Greenbelt each year through grantee activities and the Annual Tour de Greenbelt cycling event

  • Creating a network of Farmer’s Markets to help improve our local food economy

  • Providing grants and support to significantly increase sales at farmers’ markets

  • Supporting the creation of an award-winning Greenbelt granola bar

  • Supporting the development of multi-cultural crops and training new Canadian Farmers

  • Identifying barriers to opening markets for Greenbelt farmers and proposing solutions

  • Developing a successful culinary tourism platform for Niagara

  • Supporting tourism initiatives including in the Niagara and Caledon areas

  • Supporting changing the City of Toronto policy to adopt a local food purchasing bylaw for city facilities

  • Partnering with Harbourfront Centre to tell the story of Ontario’s Greenbelt to 12 million people via a year-long, outdoor photography exhibit

  • Funding visionary planning processes such as the new Cootes to Escarpment Park Management Plan, and a massive reforestation plan in Rouge Park

  • Supporting food policy council in Durham to create food charter

  • Supporting the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance to foster strong Greenbelt Plan implementation at the municipal level

  • Building a local food economy from developing new markets to enhancing distribution channels

  • Securing local food procurement commitments for Peel, U of T. City of Toronto Facilities and Markham

  • Successfully merging social welfare initiatives with environmental concerns

  • Supporting development of action plans for a variety of agricultural areas and commodities

  • Supporting the Credit Valley Conservation Authority to protect and restore wetlands

  • Reaching over 75 million by placing 220 permanent highway and regional road signs to ensure Ontarians and visitors know about this valuable protected area

 
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