02/19/2026
FOOD SYMPOSIUM PANEL SPEAKER HIGHLIGHT
Toyin Kayo-Ajayi is a lifetime farmer with 24 years of experience in Canadian agriculture and is recognized as one of the only Black farmers in Canada.
Since 2020, he has pioneered the cultivation of culturally relevant African and Caribbean crops at his pilot farm, the Kara-Kata Africa Village in Hatzic, BC, helping to address critical gaps in access to traditional foods for Black, African, and Caribbean communities. As the founder of the Canadian Black Farmers Association, he is dedicated to advancing food sovereignty, mentoring new farmers, and creating sustainable agricultural pathways that empower underrepresented communities and strengthen Canada’s diverse food systems.
Toyin will share insights from 5 years of hands-on experimentation growing culturally relevant African and Caribbean crops at his pilot farm. He will discuss the importance of making culturally significant foods available locally, the barriers many communities face in accessing these essential foods, and the broader impacts on food security, health, and cultural identity. Drawing from his lived experience as a farmer and community leader, he will explore practical solutions to address these gaps, including local production, knowledge sharing, and building inclusive agricultural systems that serve diverse communities across Canada.
MISSION FOOD SYMPOSIUM: Learning together to reduce hunger in the Fraser Valley
Kara-Kata Africa Village Project
