Title
Future of Agriculture Study - September 2015 Situation Report.
Proposed Motion:
That the Committee of the Whole (CoW) accept the Future of Agriculture Study - September 2015 update as information.
Body
Purpose
The purpose of this report is to provide Council with an update on the Future of Agriculture Study, and to seek the Committee's input on the status and vision of agriculture in Parkland County. Phase 1 of the of the Future of Agriculture Study includes a "Situation Report" (Attachment 2). Administration will present a review of the project findings and background work completed to date by the Consultants (Toma and Bouma). The Phase 1 findings include: highlights of an analysis of agricultural statistics for Parkland County; analysis of current policies and plans; one-on-one consultation findings; focus group meeting findings; and soil and additional agricultural information. Administration, as part of this meeting, wishes to have a discussion with the CoW respect to the following questions:
1. The Status of Agriculture in Parkland County in 2015 and in the future:
a. What does it mean for Parkland County?
b. What has changed and is changing?
c. What fits and has a future?
d. What are the needs or what could to be considered?
e. What are the implications and requirements associated with each need or consideration?
2. A Vision for agriculture in Parkland County - what might a picture of the future look like?
The Consultant is proposing the following scenarios for discussion:
a. “Base Scenario” - continuing current agricultural trends and the status quo as it relates to agriculture.
b. “Maintenance Scenario" - policies and support programs to maintain/sustain agriculture.
c. “Pro-Agri-Food Scenario" - policies, strategic investments and support programs to build the agri-food capacity in Parkland County.
d. Other - explore other ideas and/or potential outcomes.
3. Principles for Planning - a discussion of the core principles that will guide ...
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