Wellington County Agri-food Systems Study

Client: Wellington Federation of Agriculture (WFA)

Expertise Applied:

  • Stakeholder engagement

  • Facilitation 

  • Plain language writing

  • Agri-food sector and agricultural economic development expertise

  • Deep knowledge of municipal planning

Supporting the viability of the agriculture and agri-food system in Wellington County, Ontario must be a key priority as the County prepares for a growing population. The population is expected to increase by 61% by 2051. The rapid population growth will put notable pressure on area farmland. It is important to consider the role of agriculture for local and regional food security, the environment, and society while balancing the need to make room for a growing community.

We worked with the Wellington Federation of Agriculture (WFA) and Serecon to examine the economic impact of the agriculture and agri-food system in the County. We identified opportunities to support the growth and development of this system.

Our team:

  • Reviewed relevant literature, government and industry reports, and agricultural census data in Wellington County;

  • Analyzed maps using ConnectON to allow for a visual and spatial analysis of the current state of the agricultural industry in the county;

  • Conducted a County-wide survey;

  • Held community focus groups, and

  • Conducted interviews with key stakeholders.

Key findings from our work include:

  • Wellington County’s agri-food system contributes $2.8 billion to Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

  • Wellington County farmers are innovators in adopting sustainable farming practices.

  • Wellington County is a powerhouse in field crop production, as well as in livestock production and processing.

A great place to grow!

Wellington County is home to:

  • 12% of Ontario’s dairy and milk production farms

  • 10% of Ontario’s poultry and egg production farms

  • 10% of Ontario’s acres for corn silage

  • 7% of Ontario’s acres of winter wheat

Challenges the agriculture and agri-food system in Wellington County faces include the growing population, protecting Wellington County’s prime agricultural land and growing entrepreneurship in agriculture. Several opportunities exist for stakeholders in the County to play a role in protecting this growing agri-food system.

You can read the full press release here:

For the complete list of findings and opportunities, please see the full report here:

As Ontario embarks on land use policy updates, studies like this one are crucial. Municipalities must find the correct balance between population growth and housing needs, and the growth and development of our agri-food system.

"This report confirms our knowledge that the farmers in Wellington County are leading the way in agricultural production in Ontario. It also reinforces that our soils are a driving force behind the vibrant agri-food system in the County. As our County and province grow, we have a responsibility to protect and grow our agri-food system, not only for our future, but also for the future of those who depend on the food we produce.”

-  Andy Lennox, Warden, Wellington County

If your organization or municipality is interested in developing a more thorough understanding of the importance of the agri-food system in your area, our team of professionals can help!