October 26, 2012

Office of the Councillors
2nd Floor, City Hall
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, AB T5J 2R7

RE: “Fresh” Edmonton’s Food and Urban Agriculture Strategy

Dear Mayor Mandel and City Council,

Our city’s ability to sustain the food supply for future generations is a topic of great importance to our demographic. The NextGen Committee has reviewed and discussed fresh: Edmonton’s Food and Urban Agriculture Strategy. As NextGen has not had an opportunity to provide direct input to this strategy, we would like to offer feedback for your consideration. Overall, our Committee supports the direction of this strategy and has some recommendations as fresh evolves and moves into implementation.

STRENGTHS:

• The extensive public consultation for fresh: Edmonton’s Food and Urban Agriculture Strategy was imperative to the creation of a holistic and sustainable food and agricultural strategy for Edmonton.
• We believe that the Strategy Frameworks, outlined in fresh will provide a foundation for a more resilient and self sufficient food supply for Edmonton.
• We support the creation of an Edmonton Food Council as it is important that this strategy is implemented with the consultation of various municipal and provincial stakeholders and there is necessary oversight for the creation of a food charter.
•  We support Education and Governance as foundational pieces of the strategy.
• The inclusion of food waste diversion and composting from businesses is important.

AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT

Stewardship
Some key issues NextGen feels are un-answered within fresh include:

• Preservation of agricultural land and how much should be preserved. Roles and responsibilities of community and government are not clear as fresh moves into the implementation phase. Unclear position on animal husbandry and beekeeping.
• While the creation of a food council and food charter are contemplated, no clear champion for their implementation exists.

Alignment with City of Edmonton Goals

• There is a perceived alignment with and dependence on the Growth Coordination
• Strategy, which has not had public consultation to date. How will this and alignment with future plans, including the Energy and Climate Change Policy be considered in the implementation phase?
• Due to this document’s connection with future Area Structure Plans, the process and completion of the fresh appears to have been rushed to meet a timeline that has been driven largely by the development industry.
• A summary of the Way We Live is missing from the sector plans descriptions.

Stakeholders

• Though food security is an issue that touches all Edmontonians, little consideration is given to the needs of those who live in the inner city, food deserts and the Aboriginal Community.
• The strategy does not acknowledge the role of community-driven organizations such as Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton and Fruits of Sherbrooke.
• A regional lens, which would illuminate the greater impact of the interconnected food hubs within the Capital Region is missing.
• Despite acknowledging the need to support mentorship and training for urban agriculture there is no mention of opportunities for K-12 schools.

We would like to thank you for your time and consideration of our above comments. If you should have any questions or concerns, please contact us at tegan@redbrickinc.ca and brian.murray@edmonton.ca.

Best Regards,

Tegan Martin-Drysdale
Edmonton’s NextGen Committee Community Co-Chair

Brian Murray
Edmonton’s NextGen Committee Civic Co-Chair

c: Gary Klassen, General Manager, Sustainable Development Peter Ohm, Manager, Urban Planning and Environment, Sustainable Development Kathy Barnhart, Manager, Community and Social Development, Community Services