Growing Durham Region’s agri-food industry and vibrant northern economies for the future

Whitby, Ontario – The Regional Municipality of Durham is moving forward with two five-year plans to deliver new economic development projects, programs and approaches to grow its agri-food industry and create high-value jobs in north Durham. The Region will be working hand-in-hand with its partners in the north to create jobs and economic growth over the next five years.

The Growing Agri-food Durham Plan 2023 – 2027 was created in co-operation with Durham’s various agri-food producers, businesses and community partners. It sets out the Region’s activities to grow and support Durham’s agri-food businesses and the agri-food industry over the next five years. This plan has four key themes.

Attract, retain and expand agri-food businesses by increasing agri-food processing capacity; encouraging diversified on-farm and agri-tourism uses; and accelerating new business startups.
Promote outreach and agri-food education by providing resources to current and next generation farmers—including succession planning and mentorship programs—and partnering with industry associations and organizations to expand agriculture literacy.
Enable a supportive policy environment by identifying opportunities to streamline regulations and approval processes and advocating for infrastructure investment.
Support an agriculture workforce through agri-innovation and identifying opportunities and solutions for labour shortages in the agri-food industry.

The Growing North Durham Plan 2023 – 2027 was created in co-operation with the townships of Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge, along with other partners. It lists projects and programs to help foster a vibrant and resilient northern economy. The delivery of economic development programming relies on collaboration among the Region, townships, business support organizations and community partners. The plan has three key pillars to guide economic development in north Durham:

People – foster north Durham’s entrepreneurial ecosystem; attract and retain a skilled workforce that meets the needs of this community; and foster north Durham’s innovation economy.
Places – highlight north Durham’s value proposition; welcome new and diverse businesses; and create vibrant downtowns through revitalization programming and community economic development efforts.
Prosperity – retain existing businesses and support their expansion in north Durham; be investment-ready while supporting local business expansions and improvements; and facilitate ongoing improvements and expansions of north Durham’s infrastructure.

Quotes

“Supporting the agri-food industry and the economies of Durham Region’s northern communities is imperative to overall economic health. Agri-food is a key economic driver in our region, and it is crucial that we identify and address economic challenges and opportunities in Durham’s rural communities. This critical work will ensure co-ordinated efforts in building a resilient future.”

– John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Region of Durham

“I am proud of the work that Durham Region’s Economic Development and Tourism Division, and its partners, continue to do to build vibrant rural industries and economies. These are both strong, action-oriented plans that will create dynamic communities with momentum and excellent new jobs.”

– Simon Gill, Director of Economic Development and Tourism, Region of Durham

Quick facts:

Durham Region has a strong agricultural industry and is a leading agricultural producer contributing more than $350 million to Ontario’s total farm production. It is home to 1,200 farms with a total farmland area of 264,518 acres.
Durham Region is committed to supporting and growing the agri-food sector. In 2019, the Durham Region Local Food Business Retention and Expansion Project surveyed more than 60 local food businesses to create a system-wide approach for accessing local food, supporting local agri-businesses and enhancing food literacy.
In 2021, the Agriculture Workforce Project was developed to inform Durham Region residents of careers in agriculture and agri-food production, their essential role in the region and to encourage residents to enter careers in the agriculture industry.

About Durham Region

Durham Region is—simply—more. Located on the eastern side of the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area, Durham is a region with momentum. Offering a competitive advantage like no other, Durham is a community where talented, smart, diverse and ambitious people—known for their innovation, creativity, skills and education—bring access to world markets, insights, invention and traditions. A place where an innovative ecosystem helps propel new ideas forward. Where ingenuity and industry help tackle global challenges. Visit durham.ca to learn more about one of Canada’s fastest growing communities.

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Read this article on the Region of Durham's website.