By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
At the September Strategic Priorities and Policy Standing Committee meeting, Cobourg council threw its support behind sustainable food policy – as set out by the Northumberland County Food Policy Council.
This organization strives to bring together individuals, organizations and local governments to examine the local food system, stimulate dialogue and provide policy for a sustainable food system, said Bob Garthson – who, when he lived in Toronto almost 30 years ago, chaired the Toronto Food Policy Council, the first food policy council in North America.
“We have experts, we have resources, we have local farmers, we have people who understand Northumberland County and the implications of food policy,” he said.
Garthson described a sustainable food system as one that delivers food security and nutrition for all in such a way that the economic, social and environmental bases to generate food security and nutrition for future generations are not compromised.
He also provided statistics for Northumberland County’s agricultural sector, which makes up 31% of the county’s economy.
“Farms are getting bigger, but there are fewer farms,” the speaker said.
The county’s 840 farms represent a 12% decrease since 2016. Its 4,490 agricultural-sector jobs represent a 15% decrease since 2016.
Northumberland County produces more than 2,200 food stuffs that generate $147-million in farm cash receipts, a 23% increase since 2016.
Garthson flagged three issues of concern – urban agriculture (beekeeping, backyard hen coops), vineyards (especially if the climate should get warmer), and events that can support agritourism. Issues seen as priorities include protecting rural areas from urban sprawl and infrastructure report.
The ask was to incorporate and implement their policy recommendations as set out in the Northumberland County Food and Official Plan Report, and to appoint a Cobourg representative – councillor or staffer – to join the local food policy council. Details will be set out in a staff report.
“We are very short staffed – I just want to manage expectations and provide realistic feedback,” Chief Administrative Officer Tracey Vaughan stated, noting that the staff report may let them “share more realistically what ‘as soon as possible’ might look like.”
