Capacity of Ontario municipal planning departments to support local and regional agri- food systems

Municipalities play an important role in supporting and facilitating agri-food system growth that is economically sound, environmentally sustainable, and aligned with provincial priorities. Municipal planning departments have the ability to enhance or hinder agri-food systems through the creation, implementation, and enforcement of policies, programs, and initiatives related to agriculture and agri-food systems. Research carried out in 2020- 2021 revealed that municipal capacity in Ontario’s Greenbelt region is varied in terms of staffing, budget, knowledge, and department structure, among other factors. The impacts of municipal capacity affect whether municipalities are able to proactively or reactively plan for agri-food systems. This project looks to extend previous research based in the Greenbelt to the rest of the province. The Greenbelt region of Ontario is unique and is not representative of municipal experiences in less urbanized regions. Assessing municipal capacity to support agri-food systems is important to understanding the ways varied municipal capacity impacts the agri- food sector (programs, policies, plans, etc.), helping to target provincial government support, and allowing for knowledge sharing between municipalities. This project will include both Southern and Northern Ontario and aims to capture the range of agri-food related challenges facing regional governance across the province. Funding: OMAFRA through the Ontario Agri-food Innovation Alliance