Farmland protection: Opportunities for Collaboration. Pat Learmonth Director

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1 Farmland protection: Opportunities for Collaboration Pat Learmonth Director

2 2015: Ontario is a net importer of food More than half of Ontario s $20 billion in imported food products could be produced in the province If local production were expanded to replace even ten percent of the top ten fruit and vegetable imports, the Ontario economy would gain close to quarter of a billion dollars in Gross Domestic Product and 3,400 full-time jobs. When more food is produced locally, energy use and pollution from transportation are reduced

3 Challenges 1. Declining numbers of farmers

4 Retiring Farmers in Ontario Under * 2031* 25 year Change % Over % Total % Source: Statistics Canada 2006 and 2011 * 2021 and 2031 are derived, based on assumptions that farmers begin to farm at age 25, retire at age 75, and are evenly distributed within age groups; no succession to in-family employees

5 Challenges 1. Declining numbers of farmers 2. Less farmland in production

6 Challenges 1. Declining numbers of farmers 2. Less farmland in production 3. More people to feed

7 More people 19% 50%

8 New York state study, ha or.44 ac per person for non-meat diet.86 ha or 2.2 ac per person for diet with meat Source: Peters, Christian J., Jennifer L. Wilkins and Gary W. Fick, 2007: Testing a complete-diet model for estimating the land resource requirements of food consumption and agricultural carrying capacity

9 Can we feed Ontario? 19% 50% 9.6 million acres supports: 4.4 million meat eaters OR 22 million non-meat eaters

10 Challenges 1. Declining numbers of farmers 2. Less farmland in production 3. More people to feed 4. Costly farmland

11 Good news.bad news Source: FCC 2014 Farmland Values Report

12 Challenges 1. Declining numbers of farmers 2. More people to feed 3. Less farmland in production 4. Costly farmland 5. Food prices

13 Climate change will remain one of the most significant, unpredictable influences on food prices Volatility of the dollar also cited

14 Challenges 1. Declining numbers of farmers 2. More people to feed 3. Less farmland in production 4. Costly farmland 5. Food prices

15 Opportunities for Collaboration

16 1. Other farmland owners For whom farmland protection is not the main priority: Conservation Authorities Land Trusts about 20,000 ac 2015 survey

17 1. Other farmland owners Municipalities Provincial MNR, Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Federal Rouge NU Park, NCC First Nations Investors Community organizations, schools at least 50,000 acres identified

18 2. Organizations with aligned goals Farm organizations New farmer training programs Economic Development Food security organizations Farm stewardship organizations

19 Areas for collaboration 1. Early stage planning for farmland properties Inventory of assets Establishing property-specific goals, uses and resources 2. Development of Management Plans Detailed planning of projects, responsibilities

20 Areas for collaboration 3. Execution of elements of Management Plans Identifying tenants Negotiating rental agreements Carrying out stewardship projects Monitoring compliance

21 Management Options Rent the lands to a neighbouring farmer Rent as a home farm to a beginning farmer Rent to an organization that manages rentals to farmers Rent to an organization that executes a vision Farm the land

22 NCC land leased by Just Food Established 2013 to support new farmers in Ottawa region Offers access to tile-drained land, shared infrastructure, equipment and training Access for up to three years on-site

23 McVean Farm Land leased from Toronto Region Conservation Authority by FarmStart Provides access for growers in Brampton

24 The Mount, Peterborough 10 acre site

25 Clearwater Farm project Land owned by a township of Georgina Leased for 20 years to the Ontario Water Centre Flagship project will include demonstration and training on high-intensity SPIN farming for suburban growers

26 farmsatwork.ca