Edgar Ondati works at the intersection of technology, sustainable agriculture, and community development. As a founding member of the African-Canadian Agricultural Producers Cooperative (ACAPC), he’s part of efforts to promote food security, cultural preservation and connection with the land, and sustainable farming practices in Canada.
With a Background in Computer Science and specialized training in organic farming and microcontroller electronics, Edgar brings a technical perspective to agriculture. His hands-on experience includes vermiculture and developing farming solutions that integrate technology with sustainable practices.
His entrepreneurial, consulting and volunteering background has provided experience that shapes his approach to cooperative farming, food sovereignty and community resilience.
This background continues to inform his work in building cooperative networks.
Recently, Edgar developed the web application for Canada Food Flows, a data visualization tool created with researchers from UBC’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability.
The platform (canadafoodflows.ca) traces the journey of produce to Canada, revealing that roughly 60% of vegetables and 80% of fruits consumed by Canadians are imported. It provides provincial-level data for 18 fruits and 16 vegetables from 2010-2022, helping users understand climate risks and environmental footprints.
The African-Canadian Agricultural Producers Cooperative operates from their farm in Port Kells, focusing on producing culturally appropriate crops for African diaspora communities as well as vegetables and fruit staples, while promoting sustainable farming practices and creating economic opportunities for African farmers in Canada.
Edgar’s work combines data-driven insights with practical grassroots farming experience. From developing tools that reveal patterns in Canada’s food supply chains to growing culturally significant crops through cooperative farming, he brings both technical and hands-on perspectives to discussions about sustainable agriculture, food security, and cooperative farming models.
