WELLINGTON COUNTY – The county’s Experimental Acres program has won an Award of Excellence in Rural Economic Development from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario.
The honour, announced at the EDCO Conference’s President’s Dinner on Feb. 6, recognizes innovative, collaborative, distinctive achievements in economic development.
“This prestigious award reflects the hard work and dedication of staff, participating farmers and our municipal partners,” councillor Jeff Duncan, chair of the county’s economic development committee, stated in a news release.
“Experimental Acres is helping to build a sustainable and prosperous future for farmers – not just in Wellington County, but across Ontario. We’re proud that the program has successfully expanded into other municipalities, and together, we’re reaffirming our commitment to agricultural and environmental sustainability.”
The program, launched as part of the county’s efforts to support environmentally friendly agriculture, provides micro grants, soil testing and research support to small and medium-sized farms to trial regenerative agriculture practices.
A handbook launched in 2023 provides a step-by-step guide for other municipalities interested in replicating the program.
“Receiving this recognition from EDCO is an incredible honour and a milestone for the Experimental Acres program,” county agriculture coordinator Jordan Grigg stated in the release.
“It’s a testament to the success of our approach, and we are excited to continue supporting our farmers in their journey toward innovation and sustainability. We invite other municipalities to reach out to learn how they might adopt similar initiatives for a greener future.”
For more information visit wellington.ca/experimentalacres.
