Incredible initiatives led by local champions of urban agriculture

where it started

In September 2020, the Smart Cities office launched the Guelph-Wellington Urban Agriculture Challenge. This program, led by Harvest Impact, in partnership with Our Food Future, invited proposals for projects that would support circular economic recovery and accelerate food production, getting more food to the table with less environmental impact.

By February 2021, ten local not-for-profit and social enterprise projects shared $106,000 in funding to develop sustainable initiatives that would help more people in Guelph-Wellington access healthy food. Projects began in spring 2021, with others active in 2022 and beyond.

funded projects

Stream 1. Transformative Urban Agriculture Award (1) – $70,000

Stream 2. Scaling Out Community Agriculture Award (1) – $20,000

Stream 3. Shovel and Fork Awards (6) – $2,000 per award

Funding for an additional two projects which had the potential to address issues of inequity and have a significant impact for people in Guelph-Wellington who identify as Black, Indigenous or people of colour was secured during the evaluation process.

“Urban Agriculture is the practice of cultivating, processing and distributing food in our built environment where we live, work and play”, says Julia Grady, Executive Director at 10C. "It contributes to food security and local economies, and increases social connection and resiliency."

Socially Financing Our Future

Our Food Future

A Smart Cities Circular Food Economy Project​

Inspired by the planet’s natural cycles, a circular food economy reorganizes and regenerates the systems that feed us, eliminating waste, replenishing our ecological systems, sharing economic prosperity, and nourishing our communities. In Guelph-Wellington, we are working to build a circular food economy that will achieve a 50% increase in access to affordable nutritious food, 50 new circular economy businesses and collaborations and a 50% increase in circular economic revenue by recognizing the value of waste.

Our Food Future
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© 2023 Harvest Impact>> | A project of 10C Shared Space>> for Our Food Future>>

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