Planning for a local food system: Assessing the potential for small-scale agriculture in Winnipeg, Manitoba's peri-urban areas
Date
2020-01-02
Authors
Ervick-Knote, Holly
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Abstract
Farm consolidation is a continuing trend across Canada and within Manitoba. At the same time, there is a growing movement toward supporting local food production and consumption in Manitoba and across Canada. This major degree practicum project uses document analysis, mapping analysis, and semi-structured interviews to examine how the City of Winnipeg could better support small-scale food production, as well as to identify areas of Winnipeg’s peri-urban space that could benefit from creation of a regulatory framework establishing small-scale food production. This research found that strong leadership is needed to ensure preservation of high quality agricultural lands near urban areas, policies that establish and permit a greater variety of agriculture forms and scales help to better support agriculture in cities, and there is significant opportunity for agricultural development within Winnipeg’s peri-urban space. Five recommendations for action are provided including provincially mandating farmland preservation, incorporating small-scale food production and other related uses into the City of Winnipeg’s zoning by-law, and creating an advocacy body for local producers.
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Urban agriculture, Small-scale food production, Small-scale agriculture, Peri-urban agriculture, Regional planning, Farmland preservation, Winnipeg