Establishing a Wild Foods-

based Economy in Northern

OntarioPrepared by: Jessica Bolduc, Research Coordinator

NORDIK Institute

Overview

Definition of Non-timber Forest Products and Wild Foods

Prefeasibility Study of Wild Foods Processing in Algoma - partnership with

private sector and the Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN)

Broader implications facing Wild Foods harvesting in Northern Ontario

Opportunities and benefits of Wild food-based economies

Policy and Research challenges and opportunities

Wild Foods and Non-Timber Forest

Products

Definition of NTFPs (Mohammed, 1999):

Botanical products harvested or originating from forest based species

Exclude primary timber products such as lumber and paper

Can be categorized as food, health and personal care products, materials and

manufacturing products, environmental products, landscape and garden

products, decorative and aesthetic products

Some of the best known NTFPs are those that are from cultivated sources

such as maple syrup and Christmas trees/ornamental decorations

Wild foods (forest and freshwater) are typically harvested without

cultivation and include wild game, blueberries, rice, plants used for teas,

fiddleheads, mushrooms and medicines

The Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN) is

a project of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation

Centre (SSMIC) and NORDIK Institute, with

collaboration and support from local associations, producers, businesses,

communities and funding organizations.

What is RAIN?

Cooks Station

CorporationAlgoma Community Pasture

Association

Funding Sources

• Build relationships through networking,

collaboration and priority setting

• Build capacity of local producers and businesses

in agriculture and food through practical

workshops, sharing information, and assisting with

market development

• Undertake research, tailored to the needs of

local producers by conducting crop trials,

fostering innovation and sharing research that

improves the sector

Pre-feasibility analysis of NTFPs and Wild

Foods Processing in Algoma

Collaboration with Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN), private sector

harvestor and wild foods processing company

Contracted consultant to undertake study – expected completion December

2013

Examining the ownership and financial considerations for establishing a

NTFP processing facility in the Algoma District

Study will fill necessary gaps to determine if the processing facility would be

viable for potential First Nation’s partners in Algoma

Model could be replicated in other First Nations and communities across

Northern Ontario

Project Impacts – Land, People, Economy

Support economic development and create sustainable employment for

First Nation communities

Provide supplemental income for areas experiencing declining levels of

employment

Temporary project related employment during construction

Creation of several positions related to operations (kitchen, coordinators,

warehouse personnel, food scientist)

Estimated 75 seasonally employed foragers needed across Northern Ontario to

supply the facility

Income to First Nation communities through social entrepreneurship and business

development, partnerships, cooperatives and ecotourism opportunities

Support food security, land and ecological stewardship

Connecting youth with Elders and relating back to Anishinaabe culture and

teachings

Project Challenges

Lack of obvious harvesting network in First Nations in Ontario and limited

involvement by these communities in the establishment of new economies

based on NTFPs

Organizational and business capacity building is essential as well as encouraging

youth to consider food-related education and career pursuit

A support strategy is needed for Northern communities on how to access

markets for these products and new market opportunities should be developed.

Lack of community knowledge and support for pursuing food based

economies over primary resource development (mining, forestry)

Limited research in Northern Ontario for agriculture and food-related

industries and a lack of commitment to capacity building for this sector

Barriers arising from existing legislation and land use planning

Broader Context &

Implications for N. ON

Benefits of Economies rooted in NTFPs

and Wild Foods

Create an approach to development that ensures sustainability of the resources while supporting community economies

Supporting food security for Northern and First Nation communities and promotion of ‘local food ’to support resilient Northern economies

Contribute to health and well-being by providing nutritious diet alternatives that can prevent chronic diet-related illness (heart disease, obesity, diabetes)

Supports intergenerational relationships through knowledge sharing of traditional harvesting and connection to the land

Increases the connection between humans and ecological systems

Foster a broader understanding of Aboriginal and Treaty Rights and their implications for community, economic and social development

Traditional Forest based-economy vs

the Bio-economy

Boom and bust cycles caused by industrial resource extraction

Northern Ontario economies based strongly on timber and resource extraction

Food and agriculture development has been neglected in favour of primary resource development

Forest Management Planning does not acknowledge or protect NTFPs and wild foods

Wild foods – mushrooms, fiddleheads, blueberries, teas and syrup under appreciated/valued

Wild foods offer policy makers, planners and communities a new way of responding to issues such as unemployment and economic instability while enabling protection and stewardship of natural resources and ecosystems

Triple bottom line – sustainable development that addresses the needs of the land, the people and the economy

Legislation and Land Use Planning

Legislation and land use planning important tools to protect and support

wild foods-based economies and protection from exploitation. However:

Ontario’s Northern Growth Plan focused on existing and emerging priority

economic sectors but does not balance this with social and environmental

concerns

Legislation, tenure systems and strategic planning in Ontario lack attention to

NTFPs, including wild foods with minimal direction to their use and conservation

Harvesting and sale of NTFPs are regulated through ad-hoc framework of

legislation and policy

Currently missing incentives such as business support, training, information and

facilitation for collaboration within the sector and with other industries

New ‘Local Food’ legislation does not acknowledge wild foods as being local

and thus supports are likely to not exist at a level at which they are needed

Call to Action – Future Sector Priorities

Identification and valuation of the services provided by NTFP ecosystems in

N. ON

Undertake options analysis of NTFP related business to identify options for Northern Communities, support Northern Communities in marketing products and accessing markets

Support for interested First Nation communities in the collection and

mapping of NTFP related Traditional Ecological Knowledge of their traditional

lands in Northern Ontario

Assessment of the extent of NTFP harvesting by individuals and communities

in N. ON and a comprehensive economic valuation of these activities

Assessment of the cultural and social benefits of wild foods and related

activities for northern communities

Scan of successful policy and management approaches in other jurisdictions

(such as BC) for ensuring the sustainable and equitable use of NTFPs

Supporting NTFP based businesses through access to specialized programs,

training, micro-financing and recognition of these ventures as viable business

opportunities by lenders and economic development agencies

Miigwetch!

Contact:

Jessica Bolduc, Research Coordinator

NORDIK Institute

1520 Queen St. E

P6A 2G4

Email: Jessica.Bolduc@algomau.ca

Web: www.nordikinstitute.com