GTAAAC Profile

The Greater Toronto Area Agricultural Action Committee (GTA AAC) is a unique partnership involving the four regional municipalities of Halton, Peel, York and Durham, the four Greater Toronto Area Federations of Agriculture (Halton, Peel, York and Durham), the City of Toronto, Toronto Food Policy Council, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Ministry of Rural Affairs, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the food sector.

The GTA AAC was established in 2005 as a result of the foresight and funding from the provincial government and the four regional municipalities. We have since taken a prominent role as an organization committed to working on and advancing food and farming issues to ensure a thriving and integrated food and farming cluster both in the GTA and beyond.

In July 2009, the GTA AAC, in partnership with the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, hosted a Food and Farming Summit to discuss with relevant stakeholders the challenges facing the agri-food sector in Ontario. “Agriculture  in  the  Golden  Horseshoe  is  poised  to  serve  the  changing  face  of  the   Canadian population. As a cluster with global reach, we must work together to seize the opportunities  that  will  lead  to  change,  but  also  growth” Dr. Jim Brandle, CEO Vineland Research and Innovation Centre

Together with stakeholders from the Golden Horseshoe, a cross-regional steering committee and working committee were formed to create a 10-year Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Action Plan 2021 which was released on March 2, 2012 at Vineland.

The GTA AAC offers information forums to the membership to address current issues in food and farming. The 2015-16 Executive are:

Chair

Avia Eek, Holland Marsh Growers

Executive Members

Jack Ballinger, Region of Durham
Keith Garbutt, York Federation of Agriculture
Helene St. Jacques, Toronto Food Policy Council
John Opsteen, Halton Federation of Agriculture

Upcoming Meetings ( locations to be determined)

January 20, 2016 – Country Hertiage Park, Milton
March 16, 2016 – Annual Meeting, Black Creek Pioneer Village
July 20, 2016 – Summer Tour
September 21, 2016
November 16, 2016