Ont Ag Week Series: Ontario Farmland Trust talks about the Importance of Farmland and its Preservation
Posted: October 5, 2016
Categories: GoodFoodBites / News from Sustain Members
photo provided by Ontario Farmland Trust
Sustain Ontario is celebrating Ontario Agriculture Week by talking with some of our valued members about the importance of agriculture and the impact of their work in the province.
For our next #OntAgWeek Series blog post, we spoke with Ontario Farmland Trust, who work to protect and preserve Ontario farmlands through research, education and direct land securement.
Why does Agriculture matter to Ontario?
OFT: Agriculture and the agri-food industry are a vital part of Ontario; in fact, these diverse industries are a driving force in the Canadian economy (Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, 2015). When the resources that support this industry, such as farmland, are protected Ontario can move towards sustainable economic development, job creation, investment in rural and urban communities, and growth. These industries contribute to global food systems, as well as support local and regional food access contributing to both food sovereignty and security.
In the last 35 years, Ontario has lost 2.8 million acres (18%) of its farmland to urbanization and conversion to non-agricultural uses. The rate of loss of agricultural land is increasing and unsustainable, disrupting agricultural communities, Ontario’s farm economy, and agricultural ecosystems.
What does Ontario Farmland Trust bring to the agricultural landscape of Ontario?
OFT: Through the efforts of the OFT, Ontario farmland is protected from urbanization and conversion to non-agricultural uses forever. This is accomplished through a number of avenues.
OFT has successfully developed and piloted a new approach to land conservation in Ontario over the past decade, working with farmers, government, and conservation partners to establish farmland easement agreements that permanently protect farmlands for agricultural and conservation purposes. The lands protected by these efforts remain available for farming and conservation forever. An easement is a voluntary legally binding agreement that the landowner and OFT enter together. This agreement is placed on the title of the land limiting its future use to agriculture and conservation purposes only. This is an effective tool and permanent avenue to prohibit urban sprawl and other non-agriculture development. This program has generated enormous interest, with over 50 farmers and potential partners seeking OFT’s support in recent years to protect certain lands.
The Ontario Farmland Trust also works with the Province and municipal planners to encourage the protection of farmland in planning and policy development. Land use plans and policies protect roughly half of the farmland in Ontario, and strengthening these policies over time has been slowing the loss of farmland within plan boundaries. The OFT provides comments to the Province during policy reviews, as well as participates in public dialogue to encourage greater farmland protection in policy.
Finally, the Ontario Farmland Trust supports research and education efforts that work to preserve farmland within the province. This includes education and outreach activities, events, and the creation of new materials and resources. OFT itself grew out of research at the Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph, and maintains connections to research and education at the university through a partnership with the School of Environmental Design & Rural Development.
Combined, these different avenues of farmland protection result in a more sustainable, prosperous, and food secure province for Ontarians today and in the future.
What is the importance of farmland for Ontario?
OFT: Farmland is of the utmost importance to Ontario. It supports local food economies and food sovereignty within the urban and rural communities. Ontario has reached a ‘tipping point’ where if we continue to lose our farmland and our population continues to grow, Ontario will lose the ability to be food self-sufficient within the next 20 years (OFT, 2012).
Ontario farmland supports thriving rural communities through sustaining rural ways of life, culture, and economic stability. It also requires less municipal services than other land uses, resulting in less drain on local resources than the infrastructure inputs required by sprawling suburban land uses. Restricting sprawl benefits urban dwellers through the creation of complete communities and more efficient use of urban land.
There are also environmental benefits to preserving farmland. The protection of natural and cultural heritage features, clean air and water, and habitat for wildlife all stem from responsible farming practices. Farmland also contributes to the character of the Province’s landscape and brings a sense of place to all Ontarians.
Farmland is important for a prosperous Ontario; however, since 1971 Canada has lost 3.9 million hectares of prime farmland, an area roughly the size of Vancouver Island (Statistics Canada, 2014). Farmland should be protected and celebrated as a valuable and finite resource in Ontario.
Sources
Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. (2015). An overview of the Canadian agriculture 2015 and agri-food system (No. 12338E). Government of Canada.
Ontario Farmland Trust. (2012).Farmland requirements for Ontario’s growing population to 2036. Guelph, Ontario.
Thank you to Ontario Farmland Trust for taking the time to chat with us about the importance of Ontario farmland during Ontario Agriculture Week!