The NCC Greenbelt is an Unpolished Food Sovereignty Gem

The National Farmer’s Union – Ontario (NFU-O) is pleased to see that the National Capital Commission (NCC) has begun the engagement plan for the Greenbelt Master Plan review. The Greenbelt lands present a rare opportunity to build a strong example of public land management that prioritizes food sovereignty, new entrant access, ecological farming practices, and economic viability for farmers. 

The soaring cost of Ontario farmland presents aspiring farmers with major land access barriers, as purchasing a farm is unattainable for many. Caught at a crossroads, they must navigate housing, financing, and lease security hurdles to achieve a career in agriculture. Diversified and direct-market farmers – specifically those without generational privilege in land or financial equity, face higher barriers to entry and are not treated equivalently to commodity crop operations in land leases. Public farmland access has become one of the only feasible options for landless farmers, and with the Greenbelt’s rich agricultural identity, the NFU-O is optimistic about the possibilities to continue building and refining agricultural opportunities on these lands.

Leasing to diversified and direct-market farmers requires different considerations compared to commodity farmers, as it is an entirely different system of agriculture. Generally, these farmers benefit from being in close proximity to urban areas to access markets and public transportation, and from living on-site, since they need to tend crops or livestock much more frequently than commodity farmers. These factors make public land like the Ottawa greenbelt an exceptional place to continue developing land access solutions for landless diversified farmers. The NFU-O recommends the following, to increase support in the NCC Greenbelt for new entrant access, ecological farming practices, economic viability for farmers, and to meet wider food sovereignty goals.

Create meaningful and co-stewarded decision-making processes

As a public land holder, we believe that NCC should not only consult with relevant stakeholders, but must directly integrate outcomes from consultation into decision-making, transparent reporting, and meaningful accountability to the people who steward the Greenbelt lands. We advocate that agricultural tenants, Indigenous land stewards, and community food producers must have a formal co-stewardship seat at the decision-making table through permanent advisory structures with real influence over leasing policy, land allocation, and Master Plan implementation. The NCC should publish measurable, transparent progress reports showing how public and tenant input shaped decisions and how goals are being achieved.

Re-establish agriculture as a core mandate 

The National Capital Greenbelt was established in part to reduce urban sprawl and preserve agricultural land for food production. This founding purpose is being eroded, as active farmland is declining while unmanaged naturalized lands expand. Agriculture, ecological stewardship, and public access must be treated as co-equal priorities within the Greenbelt’s future. It is essential that the updated Greenbelt Master Plan explicitly names the role of these lands in supporting regional food security and food sovereignty, and establishes an overarching mandate to connect urban residents to local food production to act in the best interest of the public.

Make diversified, regenerative, and agri-ecological agriculture a strategic priority

It is clear that the NCC sees the opportunity to increase land access for diversified farmers, as the Greenbelt Master Plan guiding principles mentions diversified farming models. We advocate that the updated Master Plan establishes a formal strategic priority for diversified farms like CSA operations, market gardens, seed farms, nurseries, and mixed operations that supply local food systems, and that it requires active recruitment and retention, instead of treating these operations as equivalent to commodity operations. Additionally, it is essential that the NCC builds stronger frameworks to maintain fair, transparent, and equitable lease relationships, including structural responsibilities and accessible dispute resolution, and establishes a clear pathway for new entrant farmers to access Greenbelt land.

Farmers are stewards of the land, and offer a unique and effective climate resilience strategy through integrating practices that not only produce food, but improve soil health, increase biodiversity, improve water quality, and provide climate mitigation measures like erosion control. The Greenbelt Master Plan should include a commitment to becoming a national model for regenerative and ecological farming practices, and an agri-educational programming hub for schools, communities, and aspiring farmers. Additionally, ecological protection measures like soil health must be recognized as foundational infrastructure with measurable targets, long-term planning, and investment.

Ensure public access is equitable and respectful of agricultural and ecological stewardship

The Greenbelt should deepen public connection to food and farming through farmers markets, educational programming, farm access, and agri-tourism initiatives. Recreational use of the Greenbelt should never compromise ecological integrity or active farming operations. These lands must remain a genuine public asset, protected from commercialization that displaces farming or ecological functions, and that prioritizes economic, cultural, linguistic, and transit equity.

Conclusion

True food sovereignty allows for the right of communities to shape their own food systems. The Greenbelt lands present a unique opportunity to serve the public through increased access to local, accessible food, while providing land access opportunities to next-generation farmers who have been priced out of the market. To do this, the Greenbelt Master Plan review must create meaningful and co-stewarded decision-making processes, re-establish agriculture as a core mandate, make diversified, regenerative, and agri-ecological agriculture a strategic priority, and ensure public access is equitable and respectful of agricultural and ecological stewardship. By solidifying these commitments within the plan, the NCC can pave the way for other public land holders throughout the country, and provide a strong example of public land management that prioritizes food sovereignty, new entrant access, ecological farming practices, and economic viability for farmers.