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Following the 2024 Fall Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment, a subservice review was conducted to prioritize work by focusing on core services. As a result, this program will not move forward to implementation. The existing Community Gardens program will continue.
The City of Edmonton explored options to create opportunities for farming and agricultural development on City land with the goal of enhancing sustainability, community vitality and local food production.
Urban farming is the practice of growing, processing and distributing agricultural goods in urban areas with the potential for on-site sale. This includes growing fruits, vegetables, plants, or raising chickens or bees beyond personal consumption.
Urban farms differ from community gardens. Urban farms may allow private sales, livestock and bees, while community gardens primarily focus on community building and personal food production.
The City pursued goals to expand urban agriculture and enhance sustainability to address climate change while finding areas to reduce maintenance costs. These goals were set through directions like the Zoning Bylaw Renewal Initiative, which included a review of regulations for urban agriculture to further reduce barriers.
Following the review, City Council directed Administration to investigate converting maintained turf into urban farms and gardens.
A three-phase plan was proposed to determine the feasibility of an Urban Farming Program on City-owned land. Council approved to advance Phases One and Two of a new Urban Farming Program. Funding was dedicated to staff responsible for project management, research and analysis, and public engagement. Following the 2024 Fall Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment, the decision was made not to advance to Phase Three: Program Implementation.
Public engagement plays a vital role in gathering information and feedback to assess the support, need, and feasibility of programs and processes aimed at enhancing urban agricultural activities on City land.
The first phase of public engagement included survey research to evaluate public acceptance of an urban farming program. Responses suggest there is public support and interest in local, small-scale options for urban agriculture.
Read the What We Heard Report
The second phase of public engagement targeted potential users of this new program to understand their needs. Based on these findings, Administration began developing a program model that leveraged the existing community gardening framework, integrating a mechanism for commercial activity through a new license tier that would permit program participants the right to sell agricultural goods cultivated from their farm area.
The City has concluded the development of a new Urban Farming program. Administration will not be moving forward to Phase Three - Program Implementation.
The strategy guides Edmonton towards the vision of a “resilient food and agriculture system that contributes to the local economy and the overall cultural, financial, social and environmental sustainability of the city.”
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