Guelph Innovation Farm (GIF) as an affiliation of project partners / interest groups in the City of Guelph whose objective is to ensure that sustainable community-oriented urban agriculture becomes part of future development of and is permanently practiced in the Guelph Innovation District (ID).

The Innovation District comprises approximately 1,000 acres on Guelph's east side. Among other sustainable community development functions, future development of the ID is envisioned to be state-of-the-art in terms of environmental protection and built form. Urban agriculture is a necessary component of contemporary urban development because of the many environmental, social, research, education and economic benefits it provides. Besides improving local diets it reduces the travel carbon footprint of food, contributes to fixing atmospheric carbon dioxide and improves urban microclimate. Urban agriculture builds communities and healthy ecosystems; water, air, soil and bio-diversity. It provides fresh-to-market and value-added jobs within a diversifying green economy, extensive opportunity for delivery of social programs, and experiential-learning for many educational are research programs at all levels of education.

For more information on the ID see http://guelph.ca/living.cfm?smocid=2041

In this project it is envisioned that urban agriculture will assume two forms. The first will be continuous land areas (farm land, orchards, etc.) dedicated to permanent production of vegetables, fruits, nuts, vines and canes on a seasonal basis. This also includes appropriate integration of livestock and four-season harvesting within bio-shelters. Secondly, urban agriculture means integrating or stacking appropriate land use production with other land uses including commercial, industrial, institutional, residential and flex or mixed land uses.

Moreover, it is envisioned that urban agriculture in the ID will function as a Food Hub within the entire City. GIF is strategically located close to U of G and its private partners in international bio-materials and food research. The Food Hub may provide local organic food for large institutions such as St. Joseph's Hospital through local food distributors such as 100 Mile Market in Kitchener, and it can enhance other successful urban food ventures such as Guelph's farmer's market, opportunities for value-added processing and delivery of social programs. The Food Hub is also expected to contribute to eco-tourism through connection with the Heritage Railway and parks trails to downtown.

Image at right is an aerial view of an urban farm district (shown in colour) integrated into a high-density mixed-use community in London, England.