The Regional Municipality of York

Agricultural and Agri-Food Strategy

Agriculture and Agri-food Sector Strategy ensures York Region is well-positioned for future growth

Situation:
With more than 820 working farms and 400 food processors, York Region is a key player in the Golden Horseshoe’s agri-food sector. Positioned to grow significantly (1.1 to 1.5 million by 2031), the Regional Municipality of York required a comprehensive and informed strategy that would accommodate future opportunities and challenges.

Actions:
York Region engaged the services of Synthesis to develop an Agriculture and Agri-food Sector Strategy. Our team conducted a comprehensive environmental scan to review background information, held community focus groups, facilitated stakeholder meetings and conducted an online survey to gather information and develop a Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis. We analyzed the information to develop a final report that provides a clear picture of the economic contribution of the region’s agricultural and agri-food sector and compares the region to other regions in the GTA.

Results:
The resulting strategic plan and economic impact evaluation identifies key opportunities as well as risks and gaps for the region, to ensure that agriculture remains a strong and viable sector in York Region.