GREATER TORONTO AREA. - Agricultural and Agri-business in the GTA - Phase 1. March PLANSCAPE Building Community Through Planning

Transcription

1 GREATER TORONTO AREA - Agricultural and Agri-business in the GTA - Phase 1 PLANSCAPE Building Community Through Planning March 2010

2 Prepared by: Margaret Walton Planscape Inc. 104 Kimberley Avenue Bracebridge, ON P1L 1Z8 T: F: ATTRIBUTES STUDY: OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGRICULTURAL/ FOOD DEVELOPMENT PHASE 1 This report was completed in two phases. The Phase 2 report provides background data and analyisis of agriculture and agri-business in the GTA. This Phase 1 report provides an overview of the agriculture and agri-business opportunities in the GTA. Funding by: Greater Toronto Area Agricultural Action Committee (GTA AAC) Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance (GTMA)

3 GTA Agricultural & Agri-Business Opportunities PLANSCAPE INC. 1 MARCH 2010

4 Why Invest in the GTA? Strong Planning Controls and Regulation Advanced R&D and Support for Innovation Outstanding Agricultural Resource Successful GTA Food Processing Cluster Skilled Labour Force to Meet Future Industry Demands Proximity to North American Markets Major Opportunities for Growth Stable Economy Quality of Life 2 GREATER TORONTO AREA AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-BUSINESS IN THE GTA

5 Planning and Policy Municipalities supportive of Agriculture and Agri-Food PLANSCAPE INC. 3 MARCH 2010

6 4 GREATER TORONTO AREA AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-BUSINESS IN THE GTA Support for Innovation

7 Natural Assets Soils, Water and Climate The GTA is home to some of the best agricultural land in the country On a clear day, over one third of Canada s class one farmland can be seen from the top of Toronto s CN Tower Bristow-Callahan, K., Canadian agriculture at a glance 1999, Statistics Canada The GTA is located on the Great Lakes the largest fresh water system in the world and a moderating influence on climate PLANSCAPE INC. 5 MARCH 2010

8 6 GREATER TORONTO AREA AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-BUSINESS IN THE GTA Exceptional Soils

9 Farm Diversity Percentage of Farm Types by Number of Farms for the GTA, 2006 Vegetable 5.3% Miscellaneous Specialty 33.9% Livestock Combination 3.0% Other Combination 3.1% uilderpictures/greenhouse.jpg Fruit 4.3% Dairy 6.6% Field Crops 9.7% Grains & Oilseeds 12.4% Wheat 1.0% Hog 0.6% Cattle 17.6% Poultry & Egg 2.5% PLANSCAPE INC. 7 MARCH 2010

10 A Thriving Production Profile Total GTA Gross Farm Receipts in 2006: $677,330,080 8 GREATER TORONTO AREA AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-BUSINESS IN THE GTA

11 Agricultural Profitability Gross Farm Receipts Per Acre in Ontario, Surrounding GTA and in the GTA, 2001 & 2006 Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture, 2001 & 2006 PLANSCAPE INC. 9 MARCH 2010

12 The Holland Marsh Specialty Crop Area, Part of the Protected Greenbelt Proximity to market, local branding, market development of local food, value added, supportive municipalities, research and innovation, strong community Carrots 36.4% Onions 34.5% Greenhouse (Tomatoes, Sprouts ) 0.1% Potatoes 0.7% Celery 7.3% Chinese Vegetables 2.7% Celery Root 0.3% Beets 3.6% Turnips 0.7% Parsnips 5.5% Garlic 0.1% Mixed Flowers 0.8% Mixed Greens 7.3% 10 GREATER TORONTO AREA AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-BUSINESS IN THE GTA

13 The GTA Food Processing Cluster An Established Cluster PLANSCAPE INC. 11 MARCH 2010

14 Ontario Food Processing Output Ontario Food Processing Value of Shipments, 2007 Sample Representation of Food Processing Sectors by Region 12 GREATER TORONTO AREA AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-BUSINESS IN THE GTA

15 The Cost of Doing Business in Canada Source: KPMG, Competitive Alternatives: KPMG s guide to international business costs, 2006 edition PLANSCAPE INC. 13 MARCH 2010

16 The Cost of Doing Business in Toronto KPMG International Business Costs Study, 2006 Toronto Agri-Food Industry Cost Score is 95.6 Toronto has less costs than similar sized North American Cities: Chicago: 98.6 Dallas-Fort Worth: Houston: Boston: Detroit: 99.2 New York: Vancouver 97.1 Source: KPMG, Competitive Alternatives: KPMG s guide to international business costs, 2006 edition 14 GREATER TORONTO AREA AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-BUSINESS IN THE GTA

17 Ontario Agri-Food Exports PLANSCAPE INC. 15 MARCH 2010

18 Agricultural Environment Natural Corridors Air Quality Open Spaces and Woodlots The Environmental Farm Plan Program Storm Water Management Reduce Soil Erosion Provide Bird and Animal Habitat GREATER TORONTO AREA AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-BUSINESS IN THE GTA

19 Quality of Life in the GTA PLANSCAPE INC. 17 MARCH 2010

20 Farmer Market Lifestyle The most visible and common means of presenting local farm product to the public Provides urban residents with access to fresh produce from local farm markets Markets offer variety, improved freshness, and quality of products at reasonable prices Source: Effective, informal source of information about the complexities of modern agriculture 18 GREATER TORONTO AREA AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-BUSINESS IN THE GTA

21 Agri-Food in Health Food can play a powerful role in promoting health as well as building strong and diverse communities, protecting the environment and strengthening the economy. (City of Toronto Officer of Health, February, 2010) s/images/toronto-lawrence-market-001-acp01771-sw.jpg PLANSCAPE INC. 19 MARCH 2010

22 Positive Impact on Public Health Changes needed to reduce rising health care costs and improve the health of the population Nutrition and health can become drivers of economic performance in the agriculture and agri-food sector A great new opportunity exists for leaders in business, civil society, and government in the health, agriculture and agri-food sectors Invest in projects that are sustainable and have a positive impact on public health and the agrifood sector The Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, Building Convergence: Toward an Integrated Health & Agri-Food Strategy for Canada, August GREATER TORONTO AREA AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-BUSINESS IN THE GTA

23 Local Organizations to Support Agri-Food PLANSCAPE INC. 21 MARCH 2010

24 The Agri-Food Labour Force Employment in Food Manufacturing, Ontario, Upwards of 84, 000 employed in Food Processing in Ontario Over 225,000 students enrolled in GTA Universities and Colleges 22 GREATER TORONTO AREA AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-BUSINESS IN THE GTA

25 Factors Driving Labour Demand in Food Processing The Effects of a Global Economy The demand for increasing levels of skills in a work world that is becoming ever more technical in nature The City of Toronto Economic Development, Toronto Labour Force Readiness Plan, 2004 PLANSCAPE INC. 23 MARCH 2010

26 Food Processing Employment Trends The food-processing industry in the Toronto region will continue to be a relatively stable source of Employment Average pay rates relative to other manufacturing industries are not expected to climb The City of Toronto Economic Development, Toronto Labour Force Readiness Plan, GREATER TORONTO AREA AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-BUSINESS IN THE GTA

27 Employment Trends By Food Industry Sub-sector The City of Toronto Economic Development, Toronto Labour Force Readiness Plan, 2004 PLANSCAPE INC. 25 MARCH 2010

28 International Labour Cost Comparison Canada ranks second only behind Singapore for Total Labour Cost Comparison in a study by KPMG on International Business Costs in GREATER TORONTO AREA AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-BUSINESS IN THE GTA

29 An Evolving GTA Workforce The baby boomers, who had constituted the backbone of the manufacturing workforce, have, or are about to, retire and will be replaced, by all forecasts, with new Canadians The City of Toronto Economic Development, Toronto Labour Force Readiness Plan, 2004 PLANSCAPE INC. 27 MARCH 2010

30 Transportation Competitive Transportation Costs Close Proximity of GTA to Major North American Markets Excellent Transportation Infrastructure including Shipping Ports and Road Networks Source: KPMG, Competitive Alternatives: KPMG s guide to international business costs, 2006 edition 28 GREATER TORONTO AREA AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-BUSINESS IN THE GTA

31 Opportunities for Specialty Markets Organic Markets Currently majority comes from imports Organic market driven by age and income, clustered in urban areas Producers need to create linkages, market products and establish retail outlets that connect with and take advantage of this market Niche markets New immigrants in clustered settlements with specific demands Understand and target these niche markets Identify producers who grow or could grow the required inputs Link producers with potential processors PLANSCAPE INC. 29 MARCH 2010

32 Opportunities in Bio-Products Research, technology and scientific knowledge needed Potentially a new engine of environmentally sustainable economy Determine which crop-based materials best fit with future needs and develop processing components to meet those needs 30 GREATER TORONTO AREA AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-BUSINESS IN THE GTA

33 Opportunities in Innovation New Institute of Food Processing Technology at Conestoga College, Cambridge Highly skilled workforce, technological/scientific knowledge, and food manufacturing cluster already in place in the GTA Investment needed to create innovative products that can compete in global economy PLANSCAPE INC. 31 MARCH 2010

34 Why Invest in the GTA? Strong Planning Controls and Regulation Advanced R&D and Support for Innovation Outstanding Agricultural Resource Successful GTA Food Processing Cluster Skilled Labour Force to Meet Future Industry Demands Proximity to North American Markets Major Opportunities for Growth Stable Economy Quality of Life 32 GREATER TORONTO AREA AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-BUSINESS IN THE GTA