Municipal Agri-Food Forum 2020
Growing a Better Future: Agri-food & Municipal Collaborations in the 2020’s
Explore your role in:
Innovation – Food Security – Diversification – Direct Marketing – Export – Ag Systems Approach
Youth in Ag – Prime Ag Land Issues – Farm Labour – Rural Third Spaces
Day 1 – November 18, 2020
Hosts: Alex Ripley, Economic Development Officer, Huron County & Vicki Lass, Agriculture & Rural Economic Development Advisor OMAFRA
Date & Time of Session | Title of Session | Description |
---|---|---|
12:30 pm | Intro & Welcome |
Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Setting the Stage: Your Hosts, Alex Ripley and Vicki Lass |
Forum Contest | Play to Win | As you take your virtual field trip around Huron County (watch for the link to the field trip), join our contest to win 1 of 3 prize packages for a Huron County experience. Contest link will be shared via chat so you can answer questions related to the videos and resources shared throughout the Forum. Winners will be announced at the end of Day 2. Good luck and have fun. |
1:00 pm | Export as a Growth Strategy |
In 2019, Ontario’s agricultural exports totaled $16.6 billion. Export brings new revenue opportunities to businesses along the agricultural value chain, through opportunities for increased sales/profits, stabilization of market fluctuations, and enhancing competitiveness. Hear from local business leaders who are active in export markets and understand the role of municipal planning and economic development in setting the stage for their success. Feel free to explore OMAFRA’s Export Resources and Supports. Panelists: Moderator: Phil Lynn, Trade and Investment Unit OMAFRA |
2:00 pm | Break | Huron County Video Tour |
2:10 pm | Direct Selling & Promoting Local Food in a COVID World |
COVID-19 is impacting farmers in many ways, one of the most significant being an immediate change in sales channels. This session will look at examples of producers and producer organizations pivoting to brand & sell in this new distanced reality. Our speakers will discuss lessons learned & highlight tools and resources available to municipalities to support and promote agricultural sales locally and beyond. Panelists: Moderator: Danielle Collins, Economic Development & Policy Analyst OFA |
3:20 pm | Break | Huron County Video Tour |
3:30 pm | Partnering for Diversification Along the Ag Value Chain |
Diversification helps to expand business opportunities along the agricultural value chain, be it new crops, related supporting industries or innovative new technologies. Our panel will discuss how they chose to diversify what role municipalities played in their diversification activities. Panelists: Moderator: Alex Ripley, Huron County Economic Development Officer |
4:30 pm | Summary of the Day & Evaluation Poll | |
4:45 pm | Adjourn for the Day |
Day 2 – November 19, 2020
Hosts: Alex Ripley, Economic Development Officer, Huron County & Vicki Lass, Agriculture & Rural Economic Development Advisor OMAFRA
Date & Time of Session | Title of Session | Description |
---|---|---|
8:00 am | Recap and Networking Time | Hosts will give a short welcome and recap of Day 1. Participants will be randomly organized into small break-out rooms to have an opportunity to network and learn more about each other. This is that part during an in-person event where you would have breakfast together. Enjoy meeting new colleagues and making new connections. |
8:30 am | Greetings | Lisa Thompson, Minister of Government and Consumer Services |
8:45 am | AgPrize – How to Inspire Innovation in Your Municipality |
How can municipal economic developers encourage innovation in the agriculture sector? Huron County’s AgPrize introduces an element of competitive excitement to the process. Hear about the design and development of the program. Learn more about 2020 AgPrize winners during this presentation. Panelists: Moderator: Alex Ripley, Huron County Economic Development Officer |
9:15 am | Municipal Capacity to Address Current Agricultural and Rural Issues |
Rural communities and the agri-food sector depend on knowledgeable and supportive municipal councils and staff to thrive. Municipalities need capacity (staff/expertise/time) to respond to new and emerging agricultural issues such as climate change, permitted uses, Minimum Distance Separation, agricultural systems planning, cannabis production, environmental policy, agricultural impact assessments and lot creation. Elected officials require an understanding of the needs of rural communities and the agri-food sector to make timely decisions that foster vibrant rural communities and businesses. The research team will present findings from surveying municipalities within the Greenbelt and discuss what can be done to increase that capacity. Panelists: Moderator: Helma Geerts, MSc, RPP, Land Use Policy & Stewardship, OMAFRA |
9:45 am | Break | Huron County Video Tour |
9:55 am | Embracing the Agricultural Systems Approach |
Have you been thinking about advancing the agri-food sector in your region? Have you been considering taking an agricultural system approach as municipalities are doing in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH)? Join our panel to hear about successes, challenges and inspiration around taking an ag system approach in your municipality. Examine your role in championing this approach and how this can be one of the most rewarding collaborative approaches for helping the sector thrive. Learn from pioneers in the GGH and those just getting started in this process outside the GGH. Panelists: Moderators: Carolyn Puterbough & Helma Geerts OMAFRA • OMAFRA’s Agricultural System webpage (check for updates soon) |
11:10 am | Break | Contest Winner Announced |
11:20 am | World Café Conversations |
Eight Concurrent Breakout sessions – some sessions will be duplicated to keep participant numbers low to facilitate inclusive conversations. 1. Food Security Guest Panelists: 2. Ag Workforce Guest Panelist: 3. Cannabis as an Ag Use Guest Panelists: 4. Lot Creation in Prime Ag Areas Guest Panelists: 5. Community Cohesion – Loss of the Rural Third Space Guest Panelist: 6. Attracting Youth to Agriculture Guest Panelists: 7. Collaborations with Conservation Authorities to Support Agriculture Guest Panelists: 8. Building Community Resilience Guest Panelists: |
12:50 pm | Introduction of 2021 Host | York Region |
12:55 pm | Wrap up and Adjourn | Summary and Evaluation |
Your 2020 Hosts for the
Agri-Food Forum
Questions?
Please reach out if you have any Municipal Agri-Food Forum questions.
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Goderich, ON N7A 2K3
Canada
Phone
+1 (519) 525-5175