GUELPH – Our Food Future, a joint circular food economy project between Guelph and Wellington County, was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Recovery Projects at the Future of Good Summit on Nov. 26.
The Top 100 Recovery Projects celebrates local projects that not only help communities return to normal post-pandemic, but “build back better,” answering the rallying cry of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, “Leave no one behind” by 2030, states a county press release.
“We’re delighted that Our Food Future has been named a top 100 recovery project within Canada,” says Guelph CAO Scott Stewart.
“Grow Back Better continues to be the plan our community needs to address food insecurity and economic instability within the food system during this crisis, while at the same time ensuring we are future ready by making our community stronger and more resilient as we look to 2030.”
Wellington County CAO said, “It’s exciting to see Our Food Future receive national recognition.
“COVID-19 has impacted families and businesses across our region, and highlighted issues around food access and insecurity, food chain and supply issues and even production and distribution.
“No part of the system has been untouched. However, by working together we are creating a sustainable circular food system that can take us through this health crisis and position us well for our future.”
Barbara Swartzentruber, executive director at the Smart Cities office, said solving “complex” issues around food insecurity and food access will take “innovative thinking and a willingness to try something new.
“That’s what our community is doing, together. On behalf of the Smart Cities team, I want to thank our collaborators, champions and partners for their continued dedication to our common vision, the creation of Canada’s first circular food economy.”
The SEED’s Emergency Food Delivery project has also been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Recovery Project.
In response to COVID-19, The SEED rapidly scaled up an Emergency Food Home Delivery program to deliver 100,000 nutritious food boxes to community members in need between April and December 2020.
Guelph-Wellington’s Harvest Impact fund is matching one-to-one the first $90,000 in individual cash donations raised in support of The SEED’s Emergency Food Home Delivery program.
Harvest Impact is a social financing program of 10C and a core pillar of the Our Food Future initiative. All donations over $20 will receive a charitable tax receipt from Guelph Community Health Centre.
Donations can be made online and via cheque at harvestimpact.ca.
The full list of Canada’s Top 100 Recovery Projects is available at 100recoveryprojects.futureofgood.co.
Community members can also vote on projects they would like to see featured throughout 2021.
