Metcalf Foundation’s Newest Report – Places to Farm
Posted: August 16, 2013
Categories: Food in the News / GoodFoodBites / News from Sustain Ontario
The Metcalf Foundation’s newest report, “Places to Farm”, concludes by asking us to: “Imagine a strong and diverse agricultural sector that maximizes benefits in income and knowledge to local communities; that provides leadership in ecological protection; that is the bedrock of strong rural communities, stable markets, stable jobs; and that offers a likelihood of long-term sustainability despite economic or climatic challenges. How can we achieve this in Ontario?” It also happens to be a thought-provoking way to begin a discussion about revisiting our province’s farming and agricultural policy framework.
“Places to Farm” makes it abundantly clear that the way in which we grow food in Ontario, and the way in which we treat those who do the growing, needs to change. Whether it’s the fact that between 1951 and 2001 our supply of agricultural land has decreased by 4% while demand has grown by 20%, the loss of approximately 3.5 farms per day (mostly medium-scale farms) over the past twenty years, or the looming knowledge and expertise drain when 75% of our farmers retire in the next decade, we need to reevaluate and reconsider the industry that is not only the largest economic generator in Ontario, but is also the source of what fuels us in our day to day lives. Whether you’re an economist, environmentalist, foodie, or social justice advocate, you will want to pay attention to this report.
The authors present a categorical and wide-ranging examination of the challenges and, more importantly, solutions to overcome the current problems in Ontario’s agro-food sector. The ideas range from the innovative – modifying the Condominium Act to allow groups of farmers to collectively buy equity on a property for shared use and investment – to the subtle – redefining “farm” in property tax assessments to more accurately capture productive agricultural activity or reworking easement agreements and provincial policy statements. At it’s core, however, “Places to Farm” is a call to action to reorient our collective attitude and attention back towards the fields and barns that sustain us. It asks us to consider the benefits of farming beyond the bank account and focus as well on the environmental and social profits it can generate. From more nutritious food to a more resilient economy for us and future generations, “Places to Farm” asks important questions and gives us some intriguing answers.