a tale of two systems: the corporate and creative food sectors in greater toronto betsy donald &...
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A tale of two systems:A tale of two systems:the corporate and creativethe corporate and creativefood sectors in Greater Torontofood sectors in Greater Toronto
Betsy Donald & Alison Blay-PalmerBetsy Donald & Alison Blay-Palmer
Department of GeographyDepartment of Geography
OutlineOutline
Theoretical FrameworkTheoretical Framework Research QuestionsResearch Questions The Toronto Food EconomyThe Toronto Food Economy Result HighlightsResult Highlights ImplicationsImplications
Theoretical FrameworkTheoretical Framework
Innovation is an uneven process within….Innovation is an uneven process within….
FirmsFirms Disruptive Innovation (Christensen)
IndustriesIndustries Difference in innovation trajectories (Grabher,
Glasmier)
Across SpaceAcross Space Territorial assets in institutions, social norms,
knowledge flows (Cooke and Wolfe, Gertler and Wolfe)
Research QuestionsResearch Questions
Are particular groups of firms relatively Are particular groups of firms relatively more (or less innovative) than others?more (or less innovative) than others?
What makes these firms innovative?What makes these firms innovative?
What are the implications for policy?What are the implications for policy?
The Toronto Food EconomyThe Toronto Food Economy
A significant driver in the regionA significant driver in the region second largest food cluster in North America second largest manufacturing industry in region,
generating $25 billion directly employs 250,000
Provides sustainable economic development Provides sustainable economic development opportunities for the regionopportunities for the region high and low entry barriers rural and urban opportunities economic, social, environmental and health benefits
Research HighlightsResearch HighlightsDeveloped own database of food and Developed own database of food and
beverage companies in Toronto regionbeverage companies in Toronto region Canada 411, Scott’s Industrial Index, Statistics
Canada, MEDT, OMAF, City of Toronto 1400 companies; phone interviews
Conducted 63 interviews Conducted 63 interviews 53 in-depth - questionnaires 10 in-depth - unstructured Producers, distributors, processors, retailers,
restauranteurs, chefs, food media, educational institutions, NGOs, all levels of government
Toured plants, attended trade showsToured plants, attended trade shows
GTA Food ProcessorsGTA Food Processors
Annual Gross Sales (est. 1850-2004)Annual Gross Sales (est. 1850-2004)
($ millions -Present Value)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1850-99 1900-44 1945-64 1965-75 1976-88 1989-94 1995-2004Y e a r F i r m E s t a b l i s h e d
P e
r c
e n
t a
g e
o f
F i
r m
s
less than $1 $1-5 $5-10 $10-25 $25-50 $50-75 $75-100 $100+
A Tale of Three TomatoesA Tale of Three Tomatoes
What we haveWhat we have
Food from the earthFood from the earth quality, trust, traceability, ‘terroir’
Food from home and fusion landsFood from home and fusion lands ethnic diversity, fusion creativity
Food for thoughtFood for thought urban as site of visionary politics; an ideas cluster
Food from the earthFood from the earth
“Wild food, local food, seasonal food – this is the mantra of the chefs, producers and foodies who are establishing a distinctive Canadian cuisine. It’s not about fancy towering presentation and expensive ingredients….
It’s about finding Canadian ingredients and letting them shine” (Hluchy, 2003)
The Toronto area has the soil qualityThe Toronto area has the soil quality
HALTON REGION
LAKEONTARIO
Source: GTA Agriculture Economic Impact Study Walton & Hunter Planning Assoc., 1999. CANSIS - Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada http://geogratis.cgdi.gc.ca ESRI - Digital Chart of the World (DCW) - 1993. http://www.gisdatadepot.com GeoAccess, Division of Geomatics Canada, 1989-1992. http://www-nais.ccrs.nrcan.gc.ca
Prepared By: Walton & Hunter Planning Associates December, 2000 (#59001)
- Agricultural -Soil Classification
Class 1
Class 2
Class 3
Class 4
Class 5
Class 6
Class 7
Organic
No Classification
HaltonRegional BoundariesHalton Municipal Boundaries
Rivers
Lake
CANADA LAND INVENTORY (CLI)
MAP 6HALTON AGRICULTURE STUDY
AGRICULTURAL SOIL CLASSIFICATIONFOR HALTON REGION
N
EW
S
5000 0 5000 10000 Meters
Food from home and fusion landsFood from home and fusion lands“No other city in the world caters to ethnic diversity like Toronto. You can find almost every religion, language and food….
Because the population is so varied, there is a high demand for exotic foods. Our company has demand of the ethnic market and makes everything from ackees to bitter lemon to producing twenty different kind of beans” (Goudas, 2004)
Food for thoughtFood for thought
“Eating is a distinctly political act….Our choices about food are not just about pleasure and our own health, but are choices about agriculture and a set of social and political values.” (Waters, 2004)
“Most of the real innovation is happening in urban areas.... Toronto is a hotbed of thinking, I feed off [the] ideas cluster....The people and the problems of the food system [are] acutely obvious in a big city.” (Urban Policy Advisor, 2003)
Main ChallengesMain Challenges
1.1. Lack of institutional infrastructureLack of institutional infrastructure
2. Poor government recognition2. Poor government recognition
3. Forecasted labour shortage3. Forecasted labour shortage
4. Growing concentration of food retailing-4. Growing concentration of food retailing-distribution-based chainsdistribution-based chains
Policy RecommendationsPolicy Recommendations
Acknowledge value of sectorAcknowledge value of sector Raise awareness Support multi-cultural diversity Explore areas of positive synergies
ImplicationsImplications
ImplicationsImplications
Develop infrastructureDevelop infrastructure Adopt a National Food Policy Adopt more transparent labeling Engage in public procurement Develop distribution channels Reexamine health policy
Support new technology adoptionSupport new technology adoption Advanced processing equipment Product identity preservation