Summary of the Farms Forever Discussion

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The Ontario government is looking at an exciting future for our agri-food sector. With global populations projected to grow to nine billion people by 2050, Ontario is well positioned with its high quality agri-food products to be a leader in feeding the world.

We released our Farms Forever discussion paper in May 2017, and are pleased to have received significant feedback from agriculture and agri-food stakeholders and Indigenous communities.

The Summary of the Farms Forever Discussion captures the diversity of perspectives on how to move the agri-food sector into the future. Broad themes emerged during consultation, including: educating consumers about the benefits of Ontario grown and produced food; continuing to innovate and modernize throughout the sector's value-chain; building partnerships and collaborations across stakeholder groups; promoting Ontario's agri-food sector at home and abroad; and investing in research and knowledge transfer across the sector. The themes and ideas presented during the Farms Forever discussion will inform development of future policies and programs to support Farms Forever across Ontario.

By preserving the productive capacity of agriculture land, supporting local sourcing of food, strengthening Ontario's agri-food sector, and supporting new farmers Ontario can look forward to a bright farming future.

Table of Contents

  1. Message from the Minister
  2. Introduction
  3. The Farms Forever Discussion
  4. Context of the Discussion
  5. What We Heard - An Agri-Food Strategy and a One Window Approach for Ontario
  6. Objective One: Preserving the Productive Capacity of Agricultural Land Close to Major Urban Centres
  7. Objective Two: Supporting Local Food
  8. Objective Three: Strengthening Ontario's Agri-food Sector
  9. Objective Four: Support for New and Beginning Farmers
  10. Concluding Comments

Message from the Minister

By 2050, our global population will rise to nine billion people and Ontario will be called upon to step up to the challenge of helping feed the world. In order to meet this challenge, we need to think boldly and ambitiously.

This past spring I asked my Ministry to engage stakeholders in a conversation about how we can best move Farms Forever from a concept to reality. I am pleased by the response and the variety of innovative ideas put forward by individuals and organizations from across the province.

This document provides a summary of what was said over the course of consultations. Your input addressed a number of key policy objectives such as: preserving the productive capacity of agricultural land close to major urban centres, supporting the production, processing and distribution within a local food network, enhancing government - industry collaboration to expand our capacity to provide safe and healthy food and to support new and beginning farmers.

There is no doubt that Ontario's agri-food sector is a key cornerstone of our province's economy. Our sector contributes over $37 billion to our GDP and produces over 200 diverse commodities.

As many of you know, I have never been a Minister of the status-quo. In order for our sector to rise to the challenge of feeding the world, we must continue to be innovative and forward-thinking or we risk being left behind.

Farms Forever is our sector's blue print for the future. It will be a resource as government and industry work together to develop new public policy that will empower the entire agri-food value chain to prepare for the third decade of the 21st century.

I am proud of the over 800,000 men and woman who work in the Ontario agri-food industry. Together, we are rising to meet the challenge and moving our agri-food sector forward into the future.

Sincerely,

Jeff Leal
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Minister Responsible for Small Business

Introduction

The Ontario government recognizes that our agri-food sector is one of the building blocks of our province - and it seems certain to play a key role in our future.

In Premier Wynne's mandate letter to Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, the ministry was instructed to move forward with Farms Forever, an initiative that will help inform future policy development in support of a strong and innovative agri-food sector. This support includes investing in agricultural research and programs to support innovation in the sector.

Recognizing that the success of agriculture and agri-food processing depends on its people, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) extended invitations to a broad range of stakeholder organizations and Indigenous people. Farms Forever discussions were held in Newmarket, Chatham-Kent, Guelph, Napanee and Toronto during May and July 2017. Stakeholders representing agriculture, businesses, education and training providers, environmental groups, professional associations, producer groups, agri- and culinary-tourism, local food promoters, and Indigenous people contributed their knowledge and expertise. Interested parties, including those in northern Ontario, were also encouraged to submit their comments online. The ministry received 15 electronic submissions to consider, along with feedback from OMAFRA's Northern Ontario Agriculture, Aquaculture and Food Processing (AAFP) Sector Strategy consultation that took place in 2016.

OMAFRA is pleased to share this summary of the Farms Forever dialogue. The quotations in this document were selected from the written submissions received. As well, we have captured the verbal discussions with stakeholders at the in-person dialogue sessions. Given the size and importance of the agri-food sector, it is important to hear stakeholders' views on policies and programs that support the sector and collect ideas that will help ensure the future success of the sector.

The Farms Forever Discussion

The agriculture and agri-food sector is an important economic driver in the province. Ontario's more than 49,000 farms produce over 200 different commodities and the agri-food sector supports over 800,000 jobs and adds more than $37 billion towards the province's Gross Domestic Product.

The Farms Forever discussion recognizes that OMAFRA and its partners have made significant investments and taken major steps to grow the agri-food sector. The government understands that, while challenges continue to exist in some areas, there are many new and emerging opportunities that are presenting themselves. The purpose of the Farms Forever initiative is to identify what can be done in the future to take advantage of those opportunities.

Context of the Discussion

The Farms Forever discussion paper set out the basis for a broad discussion on four policy objectives:

  1. Preserving the Productive Capacity of Agricultural Land Close to Major Urban Centres
    Ontario understands the need to balance growth with other pressing requirements, such as retaining a land base to grow food and other agricultural products. Protecting the agricultural land base should be done in concert with supporting the long-term viability of the agri-food sector. This is increasingly important in light of other global and local issues including economic volatility, soil health challenges, water scarcity, poverty, climate change and food insecurity. With only five per cent of the province being used for farming and much of it situated in high-growth areas, there is a need to preserve the farmland that is currently in or could be put into production.
  2. Supporting Local Food
    Ontarians know that buying local food supports our farmers, our economy and the environment. At the same time, the quality and safety of Ontario food is amongst the highest in the world. Our farmers harvest an impressive abundance from our fields, farms, orchards and vineyards. Food processors transform that bounty across the value chain into the highest-quality products for consumers. Raising awareness about which regions grow specialty crops, promoting how local food can positively impact our communities, and how municipalities and agri-food stakeholders can work together will all support the future of local food.
  3. Strengthening Ontario's Agri-food Sector
    Agriculture and the agri-food sector are well positioned to contribute to Ontario's growing economy and support job creation. Ontario is a national leader in providing agriculture business risk management (BRM) programming which encourages innovation and investments that support the sector's growth. Ontario is also pursuing export opportunities to help agri-food businesses deliver on Premier Wynne's Agri-Food Growth Challenge to the sector: to double its growth rate and create 120,000 new jobs by 2020. Innovation is supported through research funding, technology transfer services, and collaboration with sector organizations and researchers to deliver educational programming and materials. New opportunities for growing agriculture, aquaculture and food processing in the north are also being explored.
  4. Support for New and Beginning Farmers
    The average age of farm operators is increasing and many of Ontario's farmers are nearing retirement. This opens up opportunities for new and beginning farmers to move into the sector and become agricultural entrepreneurs. Ontario has the largest number of people employed in agriculture in Canada. The food and beverage sector is facing similar challenges as the agricultural sector in terms of an aging workforce.

What We Heard

An Agri-Food Strategy and a One-Window Approach for Ontario

The government recognizes the four policy objectives found in Farms Forever are connected, and action in one policy objective often influences activity in another. Although this was not specifically addressed in the Farms Forever discussion paper, there was a general agreement among the discussion participants and in the written submissions that Ontario should consider developing an agriculture strategy or an agriculture policy statement to guide future policy direction.

Some participants suggested that a strategy could do a number of things such as highlight private-public partnership models to direct export and domestic market growth, support development of niche and new products, and examine inputs to agricultural production. A strategy could benefit Ontario's agri-food sector by increasing brand recognition, growing agri-tourism, implementing new technologies, and facilitating entry of new farmers to the sector.

Objective One: Preserving the Productive Capacity of Agricultural Land Close to Major Urban Centres

"We must ensure that intensification occurs in built-up areas and firm urban boundaries are held. Intensification targets cannot be optional for municipalities." - Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance

"Protection of prime agricultural lands should continue across the entire province, recognizing that there needs to be some flexibility for appropriate development in rural municipalities." - Ontario Professional Planners Institute

"Better support consumer awareness and demand by getting [city and suburban] folks to see farms and food producers at work." - East Central Training Board

Role of Government

A number of themes emerged as to how farmland could be protected for future generations. Participants saw a role for all three levels of government (municipal, provincial and federal) in providing direction through policies, tools and guidelines concerning appropriate use of land, brownfield development, monitoring land-use planning decisions, development of urban farming, long-term leasing of public lands, and consolidation of small land parcels for agriculture. Creating a regulatory framework to reduce the loss of agricultural land both close to and away from urban centres was discussed.

Municipalities

In their planning activities for urban and near-urban centres, municipal governments have a role in supporting stable agricultural activity, preserving agricultural lands, and promoting agricultural production. Activities such as promoting best land-use management practices, making information availability on a range of platforms, educating the public, and supporting small-scale and organic urban agriculture were considered.

Agricultural land-use planning needs to be considered alongside transportation planning so producers are able to get products to markets. Strengthening requirements for municipalities to meet intensification targets was discussed.

Fixed Municipal Boundaries

Establishing fixed urban boundaries emerged in each of the discussion locations. Supporting the preservation of agricultural land in urban and surrounding urban centres by restricting non-agricultural purposes was discussed. Participants said they want to see land that is currently owned by developers kept in production until such time as it is developed. Protecting land outside the regulated lands within the Greater Golden Horseshoe was raised. Extending land protections similar to those for the Greater Golden Horseshoe into other areas would preserve agricultural land throughout Ontario.

Land and Soil Stewardship

Land stewardship and protecting a wider range of land classes was discussed. Mapping of Ontario's agricultural system to better understand the availability and loss of farmland could be beneficial. It was also indicated that protecting land for some speciality crops, such as wine grapes, is important.

Implementing government oversight could address the mixing of fill with agricultural soils and the burying of topsoil by fill. Soil mapping so crops can be matched with soil and drainage would help grow agriculture in the north.

Alternative energy installations should be located on land that is not suitable for agriculture.

Additional research on strategies to reduce erosion and improve soil quality could be disseminated through knowledge transfer channels.

Education and Promotion

Educating other ministries and municipal governments on the economic importance and societal benefits of preserving agricultural land was discussed. Participants felt that educating the public on preserving agricultural land both inside and outside the Greater Golden Horseshoe would be beneficial. A public promotion campaign targeted toward children and youth in schools, consumers, tourists, developers could address a number of topics related to soil and water stewardship and preserving natural heritage systems.

Objective Two: Supporting Local Food

"While there are benefits to farming in the proximity of urban markets, urban pressures constrain farm viability. There needs to be a stronger commitment to protecting near-urban agricultural lands, otherwise there will be hesitance to maintain/improve productive capability of the land." - Ontario Federation of Agriculture

"If it is the government's intent to increase the supply of local food in the Ontario marketplace, a strong and cohesive agri-food growth policy that spans multiple Ministries and supports a predictable investment climate will be required." - Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers

Increase Awareness

Ontario and its partners could further raise awareness about local food and increase the number of agri-food jobs. Collaborative partnerships across levels of government, industry, commodity groups, grocery chains, and others could further promote local food. Opportunities to support local food policy goals through online technology could be explored. Expanded marketing and consumer education to better explain the economic, environmental and health benefits of buying locally grown food were also ideas that were put forward. Establishing aspirational goals for the public's consumption of local food could increase demand for products.

Branding Ontario's Local Food

The Foodland Ontario program could expand the number of food products and beverage varieties under its banner. With the Foodland brand, participants identified opportunities to promote best practices that successful restaurants are using to procure and sell local food. Participants suggested that more could be done to create better linkages between Foodland branded producers and consumers. There were ideas on working with large commercial food services to promote local food under the Foodland brand. Foodland promotion opportunities at summer concerts and festivals were discussed. Programs supporting agricultural economic development may be able to increase public support by branding them under the Foodland banner.

Local Food in the North

Growing more food locally in Ontario's north could produce quality, affordable food for local consumers and support economic development. Opportunities could be found to connect growing more food locally to traditional teaching among Indigenous peoples. Cooperative business models were seen as an opportunity to increase production while increasing local food's visibility. Expanding northern beef production and aquaculture could lead to more skilled jobs on farms, in fisheries and processing plants. Addressing northern transportation and getting niche products to southern Ontario markets is a need. Government extension services could support start-up agricultural businesses and work with municipalities on emerging opportunities.

Value-Added and On-Farm Processing

Participants explored ideas about how to encourage value-added, on-farm processing of small scale niche products. Participants thought that supporting small-batch processing in commercial kitchens was viable. Small-scale, on- and off-farm speciality abattoirs could help producers access smaller markets at a lower cost than shipping stock to the United States for processing. Social media was seen as a way to promote small-scale, value-added products. Agri-tourism and on-farm education for urban residents could help grow the local food movement.

Social Enterprise and Local Food

Local food education delivered through social enterprise businesses was considered as having economic and social benefits. Connecting local food to social enterprise was thought to address social issues and promote nutrition while also teaching job skills. Repurposing vacant urban buildings for agriculture may alleviate urban food deserts while also serving as teaching incubators for small-scale agriculture and food manufacturing.

Food Security

Local food could be positioned in the food security discussion as a way for isolated communities to work toward food sustainability. With some start-up support, local groups could establish regional food hubs to manage the distribution and marketing of source-identified food products from local and regional producers. The concept of regional food sheds, building on the concept of a watershed, could be integrated into local economic and community planning. In northern Ontario, preserving local food for year-round consumption could be explored. In the aquaculture sector, helping producers access urban markets was suggested as a way to address food security and expand local food expansion.

Objective Three: Strengthening Ontario's Agri-food Sector

"Improving awareness and increasing demand for Ontario foods in season will encourage grocery stores to carry and promote more local produce, as is successfully occurring with foods such as Ontario-grown strawberries and asparagus." - Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario

"The province could more effectively support new farmers by investing at the regional level, with both defined deliverables for cross-provincial collaboration matched with flexibility for each region to meet diverse and specific needs within its boundaries." - Sustain Ontario

Business-centred Supports

Agricultural business risk management (BRM) programs were supported by the participants. There were calls to include small, niche-market producers, which could provide an incentive for them to invest and grow. BRM programs could take into consideration the scale of financial investment required to start and sustain a farm business. As well, there was support for including investments in technology. Participants wanted to see the costs of nutrient management and by-product storage recognized in business risk management programs. To be successful in northern Ontario, businesses need the infrastructure to support energy and broadband technology. There were concerns that northern farm businesses encounter additional challenges because of higher energy, fertilizer and shipping costs.

Research and Knowledge Transfer

Research is vital to growing the sector's future. Consumer studies on new and diverse crops could encourage farmers to explore new niche products. Emerging uses for bio-products could be examined. Participants were interested in seasonal and year-round vertical farming. Subjects like extracting excess heat to power aquaponics and hydroponics facilities could mitigate energy consumption. Crop types suitable for northern soil and changing climate zones may be viable. New uses for crop residues and farm waste were of interest. Formalized sharing of research findings across educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, government, and private research facilities would benefit the sector.

Export Markets

Expanding northern agriculture and aquaculture by reducing export barriers was discussed. Standardization of provincial and federal government inspection regulations could help grow the sector. Beef producers saw opportunities for sales in overseas markets, particularly Asia, and saw a role for government in opening these markets.

Trade Agreements

Increasing the number of free-trade agreements and facilitating inter-provincial movement of Ontario-inspected products were ideas that were explored. Access to other foreign consumers through free-trade agreements and food-focused trade missions promotes Ontario products. Being positioned to take advantage of trade agreements was discussed. Beef producers are looking to position their products in United States markets seeking grass-fed beef. Assistance with having Ontario's meat inspection standards recognized internationally would help the sector. Increasing the profile of both large- and small-scale producers on trade missions could connect them with foreign markets. Producers want to become familiar with foreign market consumer preferences and export market opportunities. It was thought that telling the Ontario story broadly on the international stage and advertising the Ontario brand would be helpful.

Increase Diversification

Urban settings present new opportunities with both roof-top and community gardens. The public could be encouraged to think about edible landscapes. It was suggested that northern Ontario would be suitable for goat dairy and cheese production. Reforming tax structures to encourage small business start-ups and small-scale, urban on-farm processing would encourage more people to get into the sector. Revising municipal land-use restrictions to allow for more agriculture may attract innovative new ideas.

Technology

The future of agriculture will be shaped by technology and big data. The agri-food sector needs to adopt new innovations throughout the value chain. Producers and food processors may need assistance to identify and implement suitable technologies. Rural communities and farming areas require the infrastructure (e.g., broadband and mobile) to support new technology. Technology can help level the playing field to compete in the global marketplace. An example was provided that a large grocery chain is looking to implement food traceability systems and require producers to comply with the chain's standards. Technology could be an asset in monitoring and forecasting climate change to inform future growth in the sector.

Objective Four: Support for New and Beginning Farmers

"New entrant farmers need access to seed and establishment grants, early stage operating capital and shared savings programs. They need programs that are able to take measured risks on these farmers as they start-up." - FarmStart

"Sufficient funding for business risk management programs is critical for ensuring stability in our industry and the spin-off industries that rely on beef businesses. For beef farmers there is no program more important than [Ontario's] Risk Management Program (RMP)." - Beef Farmers of Ontario

Partnerships and Coordination

The discussion centred on how the agri-food sector could respond to the demographic shifts both of people who work in the sector and those looking to enter it. The discussion acknowledged there are many players in the sector and a more coordinated system would benefit new and beginning farmers. Stakeholders including NGOs, Indigenous groups, immigrant support agencies, educational institutions, government, commodity organizations and others could work together to provide input on models of succession planning, facilitating new entrants, identifying ways for new entrants to acquire farming and business skills, and attracting skilled workers to food processing. A suggestion was for a new farmers' advisory committee to be established. There was broad agreement that government and its agri-food partners could work together to develop responses to address the challenges encountered by young adults, new Canadians, Indigenous people, or second-career adults in entering the sector.

Increasing Knowledge and Training

The idea of exploring new models stretched across a number of challenges that new and beginning farmers encounter. While participants acknowledged the strengths of supports now in place, new farmers need to be able to assess various business models, access capital, secure land through purchase or rental, develop practical farming skills, build entrepreneurship skills, and advertise and reach consumers. Recognition of the skills and knowledge that new farmers bring with them is important. Some participants suggested it would be helpful to think of a skills ladder beginning with basic agriculture experience and advancing to higher technical knowledge.

Several ideas came forward on the importance of a coordinated and integrated career curriculum. It was felt that new farmers should be able to move between the training that not-for-profit organizations provide and the more formal education system. Building apprenticeship or formalized mentoring between new farmers and experienced farmers would facilitate the transition between education or training and single-handedly starting up or taking over a business. Participants also indicated that online help to direct new farmers to the appropriate education services was needed. Prior learning recognition across the sector would help new farmers move between the various learning providers and reduce repeating already learned material.

Start-Up Grants and Incentives

To help new farmers get started, some participants referenced Quebec's agricultural business start-up grant for students graduating from postsecondary agriculture studies. Others suggested seed grants with the provision to pay new farmers minimum wage in the early years, while others recommended student loan debt forgiveness as ideas to incent new entrants into farming. Other ideas included subsidizing training costs for new farmers and publicly supported training-teaching farms. This led to discussion on different ways that land could be made available to new famers and the need for succession planning to move beyond the family.

Regional Considerations

Participants were concerned about succession planning and its role in bringing new farmers into the sector. They recognized that succession planning could be different depending on a farm's location in the province. For example, in central Ontario the high price of land can be prohibitive, while in the north it may be difficult to attract new farmers and maintain a capable qualified workforce. With support, it was felt that young Indigenous people could become more interested in producing and preserving traditional foods.

Understanding the Demographics

There was agreement that research needs to be conducted on demographics such as current farmers, ages, size of operation, sources of income, business lines, value-added business activity and children's interest in farming. It was felt that a big picture of who is farming and who could be farming across the province is needed to help identify the barriers to entry and possible responses. Others suggested that a similar study was needed on new and beginning farmers with a focus on what their business interests were for the future.

Concluding Comments

From the discussions and written input, broad themes have emerged. These included the following:

  • opportunities for education
  • innovation and modernization
  • partnerships and collaborations
  • promotion of the agri-food sector
  • research and knowledge transfer

Throughout the feedback received, participants stressed the need for inclusion of a broad representation of stakeholders in future activities to grow the sector.

Through the Farms Forever discussion, participants generated many ideas to move the agri-food sector into the future. Under the four policy themes, Ontario has a solid basis for growth and development. By preserving the productive capacity of agricultural land; supporting the local sourcing of food; strengthening Ontario's agri-food sector; and, supporting new farmers, Ontario can look forward to a bright farming future. The information gleaned during all of this discussion is being analyzed and shared with senior levels of government as the basis for further discussion on the future of farming in this province.

Thank you to all of the stakeholders and Indigenous people who participated in the discussions and who provided written submissions. Your enthusiasm and commitment to agriculture and the agri-food sector will help position Ontario well in the future. The feedback you provided will be used to inform the development of future policies and programs to support Farms Forever across Ontario.