Leduc approves Urban Agriculture Plan

LEDUC -- The City of Leduc has officially approved its new Urban Agriculture Plan.

The plan offers a comprehensive framework to promote urban agriculture and enhance local food systems, and is noted by city staff as a first-of-its kind plan for Leduc. The UAP is structured around four guiding principles, each with key initiatives or "Big Moves" to drive implementation.

Under the first guiding principle, "Strong Local Food Economy", the goals are to establish a working group to support urban agriculture businesses, create a demonstration urban farm to showcase small-scale food production, and develop a community kitchen for food processing and skills training. 

The second principle is listed under "Food Accessibility & Affordability", and involves the launch of an edible landscaping pilot in public spaces, expanding community gardens by identifying and re-purposing public land, and promoting food-sharing initiatives like community fridges and harvesting programs.

For the third principle "Community Well-being", the city will designate an internal urban agriculture "Champion" to coordinate initiatives, host annual community events to promote gardening and food security, and support volunteer programs to engage residents in urban agriculture projects.

The final main principle outlined is "Education and Skills Development", in which the city will develop an urban agriculture volunteer network for mentorship, launch an awareness campaign on the benefits of urban agriculture, and create an online information portal with learning resources and event listings.

Leduc city councilor Ryan Pollard says it's an exciting time for the city. 

"I hope everyone in the community is paying attention, because we're setting the foundation for what Leduc is going to look in the next generation," said Pollard. "It's exciting to be at the table when we make big moves like this."

To ensure effective implementation of the new plan, the city says it will focus on launching short-term, low-cost initiatives such as community engagement programs, educational resources, and initial pilot projects. In addition, Leduc administration will conduct bi-annual reviews to assess program effectiveness and make necessary adjustments, while also reviewing the UAP every five years to ensure its effectiveness for the community.