This document provides an overview of Investeco Capital Corp., Canada's 1st environmental investment firm. Investeco focuses on expansion stage sustainable food companies and technologies that enhance agriculture productivity. The fund is managed by partners with decades of experience investing in sustainable food and agriculture companies. Investeco seeks to generate financial returns while also providing environmental and social benefits such as improving public health, environmental sustainability, and food security.
Presentation slides from Phebe Gibson, policy analyst at ChangeLab Solution, part of a Healthy Corner Store Initiatives webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario's Food Access Peer Learning Circle held on March 4th, 2015. Presentation focuses on healthy corner store initiatives from program to policy.
The Chantier de l'économie sociale was established in Quebec in 1998 to promote and develop collective enterprises, local organizations, and social movements. It represents networks of social enterprises and organizations involved in economic and social development. The Quebec government recognizes it as a participant in economic and social progress. It has helped establish new financial tools, enterprise models, and networks to support the social economy through organizations like the Réseau d'investissement social du Québec and the Fiducie de Chantier de l'économie sociale, which provide financing, technical support, and patient capital. It continues working to address challenges like access to capital, commercialization strategies, and developing an appropriate balance
The document discusses cutting-edge tools for financing the local food revolution. It begins by discussing lessons from Cleveland's experience growing its local food sector. Section II examines strategies for local competitiveness, such as collaboration and quality. Section III focuses on capital tools, identifying the lack of capital as the biggest barrier and outlining tools like cooperative investment, internet lending, and local stock exchanges to tap local sources of capital and beat traditional stock market returns. The goal is to unlock the "treasure in our backyards" to further the local food movement.
CEI is a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) that provides financing and business assistance to support sustainable agriculture and food systems. It has 88 staff and $898.5 million in capital committed. CEI focuses on financing, business development services, and policy work to support the triple bottom line of economy, equity and environment. In agriculture, CEI provides business planning assistance, loans from $10,000 to $500,000, and coordinates initiatives around food access, advocacy, and collaboration. Over 35 years CEI has invested over $15 million in 295 businesses, leveraging $75 million more and creating or retaining 323 jobs and keeping over 6,700 acres in farming. Recent examples highlighted include loans to an organic
This document discusses problems facing Atlantic Canada's lobster fishery and potential solutions. The key problems are that fishing licenses are increasingly leaving coastal communities as fishermen retire, prices are prohibitive for new individual entrants, and licenses are being consolidated by corporate interests. Several potential solutions are identified, including license banks that pool licenses for community ownership and leasing, loan funds for new entrants, policy changes to allow graduated license ownership, and developing regional seafood distribution models. The next steps proposed are to build a financial model, seek partners to design a small license bank pilot, and work on improving regional distribution value chains.
This document provides an overview of Investeco Capital Corp., Canada's 1st environmental investment firm. Investeco focuses on expansion stage sustainable food companies and technologies that enhance agriculture productivity. The fund is managed by partners with decades of experience investing in sustainable food and agriculture companies. Investeco seeks to generate financial returns while also providing environmental and social benefits such as improving public health, environmental sustainability, and food security.
Presentation slides from Phebe Gibson, policy analyst at ChangeLab Solution, part of a Healthy Corner Store Initiatives webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario's Food Access Peer Learning Circle held on March 4th, 2015. Presentation focuses on healthy corner store initiatives from program to policy.
The Chantier de l'économie sociale was established in Quebec in 1998 to promote and develop collective enterprises, local organizations, and social movements. It represents networks of social enterprises and organizations involved in economic and social development. The Quebec government recognizes it as a participant in economic and social progress. It has helped establish new financial tools, enterprise models, and networks to support the social economy through organizations like the Réseau d'investissement social du Québec and the Fiducie de Chantier de l'économie sociale, which provide financing, technical support, and patient capital. It continues working to address challenges like access to capital, commercialization strategies, and developing an appropriate balance
The document discusses cutting-edge tools for financing the local food revolution. It begins by discussing lessons from Cleveland's experience growing its local food sector. Section II examines strategies for local competitiveness, such as collaboration and quality. Section III focuses on capital tools, identifying the lack of capital as the biggest barrier and outlining tools like cooperative investment, internet lending, and local stock exchanges to tap local sources of capital and beat traditional stock market returns. The goal is to unlock the "treasure in our backyards" to further the local food movement.
CEI is a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) that provides financing and business assistance to support sustainable agriculture and food systems. It has 88 staff and $898.5 million in capital committed. CEI focuses on financing, business development services, and policy work to support the triple bottom line of economy, equity and environment. In agriculture, CEI provides business planning assistance, loans from $10,000 to $500,000, and coordinates initiatives around food access, advocacy, and collaboration. Over 35 years CEI has invested over $15 million in 295 businesses, leveraging $75 million more and creating or retaining 323 jobs and keeping over 6,700 acres in farming. Recent examples highlighted include loans to an organic
This document discusses problems facing Atlantic Canada's lobster fishery and potential solutions. The key problems are that fishing licenses are increasingly leaving coastal communities as fishermen retire, prices are prohibitive for new individual entrants, and licenses are being consolidated by corporate interests. Several potential solutions are identified, including license banks that pool licenses for community ownership and leasing, loan funds for new entrants, policy changes to allow graduated license ownership, and developing regional seafood distribution models. The next steps proposed are to build a financial model, seek partners to design a small license bank pilot, and work on improving regional distribution value chains.
This document discusses challenges facing fisheries in Canada and opportunities to address them through social finance. It outlines Ecotrust Canada's vision for sustainable fisheries that meet community needs. Fisheries currently face issues like access loss, infrastructure problems, and high startup costs. This limits access to capital for small fishermen and communities. The document proposes solutions like license banks, community planning, and market development. It argues that with the right governance, collaboration can reduce risk and access social finance to reverse trends and return benefits to fishermen and communities.
This document discusses environmental sustainability and the importance of photosynthesis and ecosystems. It makes the following key points:
1) Sustainability means meeting present needs without compromising the future, as defined by the Brundtland Commission in 1987.
2) Photosynthesis is the sole means of introducing energy into ecosystems and is crucial for all life through plants, trees and grasses.
3) Soil is a complex living system created by ecosystems, and although slowly formed, it is a fragile non-renewable resource if ecosystems are damaged.
4) Quotes from ancient writers show that environmental degradation is not a new problem, with references from 200AD and 340BC describing deforestation and soil
Slides from Debbie Field's presentation "Good Food Box History, Opportunities and Challenges" as part of the Food Access PLC's webinar on Good Food Box & Market Programs that took place December 11th. Debbie Field is the Executive Director of FoodShare.
The document discusses social finance, impact investing, and how foundations can utilize these approaches. It provides an overview of impact investing, noting it aims to create positive social, environmental, and economic impacts while generating financial returns. It also discusses how foundations can make program-related investments and mission-related investments to support social finance. Finally, it examines barriers to growth in the impact investing market.
The Unemployed Help Centre operates a food bank hub and food rescue program called Plentiful Harvest. The program (1) uses a refrigerated truck to collect fresh produce donations, (2) distributes the food to neighborhoods using a mobile food bank, and (3) operates a community garden and kitchen. It has rescued over 1.7 million pounds of food since 2012. The kitchen prepares meals for seniors and students. The program aims to reduce food waste and increase access to nutritious foods.
Presentation on FoodShare's Good Food Box, Mobile and Good Food Markets. This presentation was part of the Community Models of Vibrant Farmers' Markets webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario's Food Access Peer Learning Circle on March 25th, 2015.
This presentation was delivered and annotated with attendee contributions during the Spicing Up Evaluation webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario, FoodShare Toronto, and Eco-Ethonomics Inc. on October 15, 2015. See the full webinar recap and recording at http://sustainontario.com/?p=27937
Ecosource and Roots to Harvest host a conversation with Ontario secondary school teachers who are changing the school food environment with inventive local food initiatives. Watch the webinar recording on SustainOntario.ca
The Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy document outlines issues with the local food system such as high rates of diet-related illness, food insecurity, and barriers for farmers. It summarizes the community's efforts to address these issues through organizations like the Food Action Network and programs promoting local food. The strategy was developed through extensive community engagement over three years to establish seven pillars of action. It aims to build economic development and social justice while preserving the environment and culture.
Taste Real is a publicly supported local food initiative in Guelph Wellington that began in 2005 as a farmer map created by the Guelph Community Health Centre. It has expanded to include partnerships with farms, markets, restaurants, and other food organizations. The initiative connects consumers to local food through various programs like a printed food map, online directory, rural tours of farms, a local food festival, and business networking events. It became publicly funded in 2009 through an OMIF grant and municipal support. The success of Taste Real can be attributed to leveraging partnerships across the region and growing new programs while celebrating accomplishments.
This document discusses steps that governments and food supply chains can take to strengthen local food systems in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It recommends increasing production of certain vegetables and fruits to substitute imports and shorten supply chains. It also suggests that governments can influence consumption patterns to better align demand with local production capacities through coordination between public health, urban planning, and food businesses. A study in Waterloo found that a 10% shift in land use could meet regional growth needs. The document advocates for expanding organic agriculture beyond regulations to 10-15% of total production through policy initiatives including training, procurement programs, and investment.
Presentation from Windsor Essex County's Pathways to Potential Market Dollar project. This presentation was part of the Community Models of Vibrant Farmers' Markets webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario's Food Access Peer Learning Circle on March 25th, 2015.
Presentation from Food Spaces, Vibrant Places a policy advocacy campaign of the Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable. This presentation was part of the Community Models of Vibrant Farmers' Markets webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario's Food Access Peer Learning Circle on March 25th, 2015.
According to a 2011 survey by Region of Waterloo Public Health, many community gardeners have physical limitations like difficulty bending (47.4%) or walking (21.1%), or are unable to use regular garden tools (15.8%). The document outlines steps to implement an accessible community garden project, and lists partners like the City of Kitchener, Lutheran Homes, and a community group who could help sponsor and support such a project.
Presentation slides from the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario as part of the Community Garden Accessibility webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario's Food Access Peer Learning Circle held on March 11th, 2015.
Presentation slides from Catherine Mah, consultant with Toronto Food Strategy, as part of a Healthy Corner Store Initiatives webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario's Food Access Peer Learning Circle held on March 4th, 2015. Presentation focused on food retail environment in Toronto and Toronto Food Strategy's healthy corner store pilot project in Scarborough.
Presentation slides from CToronto Food Strategy as part of a Healthy Corner Store Initiatives webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario's Food Access Peer Learning Circle held on March 4th, 2015.
This document discusses challenges facing fisheries in Canada and opportunities to address them through social finance. It outlines Ecotrust Canada's vision for sustainable fisheries that meet community needs. Fisheries currently face issues like access loss, infrastructure problems, and high startup costs. This limits access to capital for small fishermen and communities. The document proposes solutions like license banks, community planning, and market development. It argues that with the right governance, collaboration can reduce risk and access social finance to reverse trends and return benefits to fishermen and communities.
This document discusses environmental sustainability and the importance of photosynthesis and ecosystems. It makes the following key points:
1) Sustainability means meeting present needs without compromising the future, as defined by the Brundtland Commission in 1987.
2) Photosynthesis is the sole means of introducing energy into ecosystems and is crucial for all life through plants, trees and grasses.
3) Soil is a complex living system created by ecosystems, and although slowly formed, it is a fragile non-renewable resource if ecosystems are damaged.
4) Quotes from ancient writers show that environmental degradation is not a new problem, with references from 200AD and 340BC describing deforestation and soil
Slides from Debbie Field's presentation "Good Food Box History, Opportunities and Challenges" as part of the Food Access PLC's webinar on Good Food Box & Market Programs that took place December 11th. Debbie Field is the Executive Director of FoodShare.
The document discusses social finance, impact investing, and how foundations can utilize these approaches. It provides an overview of impact investing, noting it aims to create positive social, environmental, and economic impacts while generating financial returns. It also discusses how foundations can make program-related investments and mission-related investments to support social finance. Finally, it examines barriers to growth in the impact investing market.
The Unemployed Help Centre operates a food bank hub and food rescue program called Plentiful Harvest. The program (1) uses a refrigerated truck to collect fresh produce donations, (2) distributes the food to neighborhoods using a mobile food bank, and (3) operates a community garden and kitchen. It has rescued over 1.7 million pounds of food since 2012. The kitchen prepares meals for seniors and students. The program aims to reduce food waste and increase access to nutritious foods.
Presentation on FoodShare's Good Food Box, Mobile and Good Food Markets. This presentation was part of the Community Models of Vibrant Farmers' Markets webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario's Food Access Peer Learning Circle on March 25th, 2015.
This presentation was delivered and annotated with attendee contributions during the Spicing Up Evaluation webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario, FoodShare Toronto, and Eco-Ethonomics Inc. on October 15, 2015. See the full webinar recap and recording at http://sustainontario.com/?p=27937
Ecosource and Roots to Harvest host a conversation with Ontario secondary school teachers who are changing the school food environment with inventive local food initiatives. Watch the webinar recording on SustainOntario.ca
The Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy document outlines issues with the local food system such as high rates of diet-related illness, food insecurity, and barriers for farmers. It summarizes the community's efforts to address these issues through organizations like the Food Action Network and programs promoting local food. The strategy was developed through extensive community engagement over three years to establish seven pillars of action. It aims to build economic development and social justice while preserving the environment and culture.
Taste Real is a publicly supported local food initiative in Guelph Wellington that began in 2005 as a farmer map created by the Guelph Community Health Centre. It has expanded to include partnerships with farms, markets, restaurants, and other food organizations. The initiative connects consumers to local food through various programs like a printed food map, online directory, rural tours of farms, a local food festival, and business networking events. It became publicly funded in 2009 through an OMIF grant and municipal support. The success of Taste Real can be attributed to leveraging partnerships across the region and growing new programs while celebrating accomplishments.
This document discusses steps that governments and food supply chains can take to strengthen local food systems in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It recommends increasing production of certain vegetables and fruits to substitute imports and shorten supply chains. It also suggests that governments can influence consumption patterns to better align demand with local production capacities through coordination between public health, urban planning, and food businesses. A study in Waterloo found that a 10% shift in land use could meet regional growth needs. The document advocates for expanding organic agriculture beyond regulations to 10-15% of total production through policy initiatives including training, procurement programs, and investment.
Presentation from Windsor Essex County's Pathways to Potential Market Dollar project. This presentation was part of the Community Models of Vibrant Farmers' Markets webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario's Food Access Peer Learning Circle on March 25th, 2015.
Presentation from Food Spaces, Vibrant Places a policy advocacy campaign of the Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable. This presentation was part of the Community Models of Vibrant Farmers' Markets webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario's Food Access Peer Learning Circle on March 25th, 2015.
According to a 2011 survey by Region of Waterloo Public Health, many community gardeners have physical limitations like difficulty bending (47.4%) or walking (21.1%), or are unable to use regular garden tools (15.8%). The document outlines steps to implement an accessible community garden project, and lists partners like the City of Kitchener, Lutheran Homes, and a community group who could help sponsor and support such a project.
Presentation slides from the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario as part of the Community Garden Accessibility webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario's Food Access Peer Learning Circle held on March 11th, 2015.
Presentation slides from Catherine Mah, consultant with Toronto Food Strategy, as part of a Healthy Corner Store Initiatives webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario's Food Access Peer Learning Circle held on March 4th, 2015. Presentation focused on food retail environment in Toronto and Toronto Food Strategy's healthy corner store pilot project in Scarborough.
Presentation slides from CToronto Food Strategy as part of a Healthy Corner Store Initiatives webinar hosted by Sustain Ontario's Food Access Peer Learning Circle held on March 4th, 2015.
This document provides an agenda and information about a webinar on local food procurement in the Ontario Broader Public Sector. The webinar will include presentations from experts on their experiences with and best practices for local food procurement. Attendees will learn about Sustain Ontario's local procurement project and participate in a facilitated discussion on opportunities and challenges for local food procurement. The webinar will also provide information on Sustain Ontario's initiatives to support food policy development and conclude with next steps.
This document discusses a city's support for developing a strategic local food supply chain. It notes that a strategic supply chain can provide value beyond basic needs and give a competitive edge. It also lists potential benefits like supporting the environment, social enterprises, and local economic development. The city council has supported sustainable and ethical purchasing. Developing a local food supply chain could improve supply continuity, economic development, and reduce costs and emissions. Some barriers to local food include resistance to change, staffing issues, limited budget, and lack of market information. Draft objectives include launching food meetings, establishing metrics to measure local food spending, and creating programs to simplify local buying and connect farms to institutions.
This document summarizes several initiatives and projects aimed at increasing the supply of local food to institutions and healthcare facilities. It outlines 8 projects funded by the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation involving various educational and healthcare institutions in Canada. It also discusses policies and efforts in other countries/regions to procure more food from local small family farms for public sector purchasing, including initiatives in the UK, Brazil, Ireland, Vermont, and Denmark. The document references challenges around group purchasing contracts and rebates that can hinder local food procurement.
The document outlines a 11 month program that mentored a cohort of public institution food purchasers starting in 2014. The program aims to use the large buying power of public institutions to support local sustainable food systems by cultivating champions of sustainable food purchasing. It does this through a mentorship program that builds a community of practice to help the cohort discover how sustainable purchasing fits their facilities' priorities and guides them through 2015. The document was written by Hayley Lapalme, the Program Designer/Facilitator of the initiative.
Green Thumbs Growing Kids runs school food garden programs in Toronto to empower children and youth to grow and prepare fresh foods. Their vision is to establish healthy learning gardens in every school. They work with 20 schools, providing curriculum-focused gardening programs from September to June where produce is used in the lunchroom or classrooms. In the summer, they offer day camps and youth programs and surplus produce is donated. The programs are run by paid staff and volunteers, and engage students through activities like composting, harvesting, arts projects, and an annual School Garden Day celebration.
Our school garden project has students learning about plant growth and caring for the environment. Students in grades 3-6 help plant, water, and maintain the garden over the spring and summer. The garden teaches students responsibility and the importance of sustainability through hands-on experience in the outdoor classroom.
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