Supporting the Development of Urban Agriculture: The Answer to Food and Well-Being in Toronto? Within the City of Toronto exists issues with access to healthy, affordable, culturally diverse food as well as issues of obesity linked to food and healthy living. The City of Toronto can begin to address these issues through GrowTO: An Urban Agricultural Action Plan for Toronto as the plan provides access to the knowledge, resources, space and opportunities for residents to actively participate in as well as access urban agriculture. The plan promotes the growth of existing agricultural systems within Toronto and builds a framework to continue expanding urban agriculture throughout the city. Through the implementation of GrowTO, Toronto will be able to address the Sustainable Development Goals of Zero Hunger as well as Good Health and Well-Being through urban agriculture.
What issues exist?
Why does Toronto need GrowTO?
Within the City of Toronto, there exists issues with the ability to afford healthy foods due to poverty. In 2017, food insecurity affected 18.5% of Toronto households, compared to the provincial average of 14.1%.1 A minimum of one in ten households within the city are unable to afford regular meals, as well as a healthy diet.2 This rate increases when looking at recent immigrants, single parents and indigenous households within the city.3
The vast majority of fresh food in Toronto has been imported from other countries.12 It is a common practice across the world for cities to grow a significant portion of their fresh food within their bounds. A recent study shows that Toronto has the growing space to produce 10% of its fresh food required through areas zoned for food production, small plots, hydro corridors, institutional lands and rooftop production.13 With the opportunity of land use at hand and the support from GrowTO to facilitate the use of land, knowledge of agriculture, organization of local initiatives, and implementation of policies within the city, the City of Toronto has the ability to work towards stabilizing accessible, equitable, culturally diverse, healthy foods across the city.
Access to healthy food within the city is a concern for lower income neighborhoods. Within the city’s lowincome areas, there are 31,000 households more than 1km away from a supermarket, and therefore not within an accessible walking distance.4 These areas are “food deserts”, sections of the city where it is hard to access affordable, healthy food and communities begin to rely on convenient, fast foods.5 Lacking the ability to access healthy food due to poverty has long term effects on health. Food insecurity is linked to a higher risk of chronic disease, depression, anxiety, and lower life expectancy.6 Residents not only need access to healthy food but access to healthy, culturally-diverse food. The population of Toronto is culturally diverse with over 250 ethnicities in the city.7 Many fruits and vegetables that are not grown in Ontario are the basis of traditional diets. Long-distance imports are currently the only way to access a variety of culturally diverse crops.8 Obesity in Toronto exists as a result of more easily accessible unhealthy food. Obesity affects approximately one in three children ages 2-11 in Toronto.9 The percentage of overweight or obese adults in Toronto increased from 43.2% in 2007 to 51.0% in 2014.10 Within a 1km walking distance from each ciy block, on average, there is access to four unhealthy food outlets for every healthier food outlet, making unhealthy food the more accessible choice.11
GrowTO’s priorities in the city There are existing initiatives that work towards providing space for urban agriculture within the city. GrowTO builds on these existing initiatives and was formed as an effort to support the existing network through establishing a framework that can align and expand the potential of urban agriculture in the context of Toronto.14 GrowTO identifies six priorities to expand urban agriculture15: 1. Link Growers to Land and Space 2. Strengthen Education and Training 3. Increase Visibility and Promotion 4. Add Value to Urban Gardens 5. Cultivate Relationships 6. Develop Supportive Policies Through these six priorities, the city will be able to work towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Zero Hunger through promoting sustainable agriculture to achieve diverse food security in the city as well as Good Health and Well-Being through access to healthy food, knowledge about healthy diets and providing opportunities for a physically healthy lifestyle through urban agriculture.