Protecting the future of the agri-food sector: exploring innovative tools for farmland preservation and agri-environmental stewardship

Lead Applicant: Sara Epp

Research Priority: Productive Land Capacity Projects

Program Type: Tier 1

Funding Cycle: 2022/2023

Research Centre: NA

Research Summary: Ontario's robust and vibrant agri-food sector depends on a stable agricultural land base. Across the province, much of this land is under threat of development related to urban expansion or sprawl. Farmland preservation strategies, such as the Greenbelt, rely on land use planning measures that prohibit non-farm land uses. This project seeks to identify preservation strategies used in other jurisdictions that may be appropriate in Ontario. As part of this study, opportunities to enhance on-farm environmental stewardship and economic development will be determined.