Cultivating Change: How Edmonton Is Growing Urban Agriculture
As Edmonton grows, so does its vision for how people, land, and food connect. Urban agriculture—once a fringe idea—is now being woven into the city’s policies, plans, and bylaws. A presentation by City of Edmonton staff, hosted by the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights—part of the Food Security and Food Justice Ecosystem of Edmonton Project (FSFJE)—shed light on how this movement is taking root and the challenges that come with growing food in a modern city.
Building a Vision for Food Within the City
At the heart of the city’s direction is The City Plan, approved in 2020. It outlines how Edmonton will welcome one million new residents while remaining sustainable and resilient. Urban agriculture plays an integral role in that growth. The plan encourages everything from community gardens and vertical farms to beekeeping, edible landscaping, and green roofs.
These ideas flow through district plans, which guide how communities evolve. Policy priorities include building low-carbon, resilient food systems and ensuring equitable access to nutritious food across neighborhoods.
“It’s about complete communities,” one presenter highlighted, “where people can meet more of their needs close to home—including growing food.”
How Zoning Turns Ideas Into Action
Urban agriculture became a defined land use under Edmonton’s FRESH Food and Urban Agriculture Strategy, creating a legal pathway for residents to grow and sell food within city limits. The zoning bylaw determines what kinds of activities can take place on a given piece of land—everything from building height and setbacks to what uses can coexist. While small-scale gardening doesn’t typically require development permits, larger or more permanent operations do.
However, this zoning does not fully eliminate challenges. Soil contamination remains a concern, especially in former industrial areas, and urban farms must prove land is safe for growing. There are also tensions over how public land should be used—for food production, recreation, or conservation—requiring ongoing negotiation between city goals and community expectations.
Supporting Communities to Grow on City Land
To help community groups navigate these complexities, the city released Community Garden Guidelines in 2023, nearly three years after public consultation. This was a response to make the process more clear for community members, as highlighted by presenters:
“We were seeing more people wanting to start gardens or expand existing ones, but there wasn’t clear guidance about how to do it safely or equitably on city land”.
These guidelines outline how to establish, design, and maintain gardens on public land, aligning with zoning and accessibility standards.
The process is tiered: Tier 1 gardens allow basic growing beds and movable features, while Tier 2 projects include permanent elements like pathways, trees, or gazebos. The community-led construction process provides hands-on support through city project managers at no cost to residents.
Still, challenges persist. City staff highlighted competing interests for public space—some residents prefer parks left open for recreation, while others want food-growing sites. Language, limited resources, and financial barriers limit participation, and vandalism or liability risks add costs for upkeep. Maintenance and long-term commitment can also falter if community initiatives lose momentum.
As one presenter reflected:
“Gardens thrive when communities stay involved, but they can struggle when volunteers move away or energy fades”.
Urban Farming: Scaling Up the Vision
To explore food growing on a commercial scale, the city conducted an Urban Farming Feasibility Study, assessing how public land might host small-scale farms. The study found strong public support but also major hurdles: limited suitable land, complex ownership patterns, and a lack of dedicated funding or staff capacity. The groundwork is laid for a city where residents can grow food close to home, but continued collaboration, funding, and leadership will be key to making this vision truly sustainable.
As a result, Edmonton is continuing to focus on its community garden model while laying groundwork for future opportunities. The presenters agreed that while gardens alone won’t solve systemic inequities and food insecurity, they are vital steps toward a more resilient and connected city. There are opportunities to develop partnerships with nonprofits or private groups that could eventually expand urban farming while addressing environmental and social goals.
Growing Toward a Resilient Future
Urban agriculture in Edmonton represents both promise and complexity. The city has made major strides in legitimizing and enabling local food production, yet the work ahead will require deeper coordination, sustained funding, and community engagement. Balancing land use priorities, ensuring long-term garden stewardship, and addressing food insecurity remain pressing challenges.
Still, the city’s evolving framework offers a hopeful path forward. By empowering residents to grow food where they live—and by recognizing that food security is as much about land policy as it is about gardening—Edmonton is planting the seeds for a greener, more resilient urban future.
Key Takeaways: Growing Together in Edmonton
Top Challenges
Land Use Conflicts: Balancing public demand for parks, recreation, and green space with the growing need for urban agriculture.
Soil and Environmental Safety: Addressing contamination in older industrial areas and ensuring safe growing conditions.
Sustainability of Effort: Maintaining volunteer engagement, preventing vandalism, and ensuring gardens thrive over the long term.
Top Opportunities
Community Empowerment: Clearer guidelines and city support are making it easier for residents to start and manage gardens; though language and accessibility remains a challenge to inclusive engagement.
Food Security and Equity: Local food production can improve access to fresh produce and strengthen neighborhood connections and contribute to better food security.
Future Growth Potential: Policy groundwork and feasibility studies open the door for urban farming partnerships and innovation. Collaboration with local grassroots and non-profit organizations also create pathways to innovative and community-led approaches.
This session was one of numerous sessions to mobilize knowledge from the community to inform the work of the Food Security and Food Justice Edmonton Collaborative supported by the City of Edmonton Community Safety and Well-Being Grant.