Public Land is an Unpolished Food Sovereignty Gem

The term ‘food sovereignty’ is often conflated with protectionism; the availability and control of food. However, the grassroots, globally recognized definition is “the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods.” Protecting productive farmland, and its cultivation by Canadian farmers directly serving their communities, supports true food sovereignty. 

To serve the public by growing food, one needs land.  The soaring cost of Ontario farmland has made purchasing a farm unattainable for many next-generation farmers. Research shows that land inequity and consolidation, economic inflation, and urban-to-rural migration for non-farmers are the main causes of rising land prices, and export-oriented growth can actively undermine regional food systems. 

Public farmland leasing programs, if designed effectively, can support next-generation farmers.    Many of these farmers are interested in diversified farming practices, which involves producing a wide variety of crops and/or raising different types of livestock on a single farm to serve a direct market, rather than specializing in one single commodity for export. Since diversified direct farming is an entirely different system and scale of agriculture, it requires different accommodations – like living on-site to tend crops or livestock frequently, accessing public transportation, and having access to local markets nearby to sell goods. 

Until recently, public land leases have been predominantly designed for export-oriented commodity farming, as it requires less land holder involvement and oversight. But, some land holders are making the connection between food sovereignty and diversified farming, and are looking for ways to expand their public land lease programs to be more inclusive of these practices to increase food security in their communities.

The NFU-O has been investigating the needs of diversified farmers on public land, to outline what public land holders can do to increase diversified farming leases. Fair leases for diversified farm operations should include longer terms (10-30 years), dispute resolution clauses, clear designation of responsibilities for infrastructure and capital repairs, and rent discounts for housing revitalization. Including on-farm or near-farm housing options are vital for many diversified farmers in rural areas, in order to carry out their day-to-day farm operations. Leases should also provide incentives to build healthy soils and ecosystems, which is supported through clearly outlined targets, realistic timelines, and connections to educational resources for agri-ecological farming practices. Importantly, weighted scoring metrics within intake processes can be used to better consider equity, diversity and inclusion.

One example of a public land holder working to improve land access for diversified farmers and support food sovereignty is Rouge National Urban Park (RNUP). RNUP is the first federal protected area in Canada to protect agriculture and farming, and leases to approximately 60 farmers who tend to roughly 9,000 acres of farmland. RNUP aims to maintain and protect working agricultural land, integrate ecological land considerations, and support the RNUP farming community. They have integrated lease provisions that structurally incentivize things like property maintenance and soil health improvement, make leases more accessible for those who rely on public transportation, and offer some opportunities to live on-farm on select properties. 

NFU-O is committed to working on behalf of current and prospective public land farmers to advocate for fair and effective lease standards. To advance opportunities for agriculture on public lands, the NFU-O is:

• Creating a Public Land-holder Guide to outline best practices and leasing standards for diversified farm operations, based on research and interviews with existing programs and public land farmers.
• Consulting with RNUP to discuss the land lease process and opportunities, information sharing with members, and the potential of expanding RNUP as a result of our Transport Canada Pickering Lands advocacy.

• Participating in National Capital Commission (NCC) Greenbelt Master Plan consultation opportunities like community open house events, submitting a survey response, and engaging with stakeholder advisory opportunities. Public Advisory Group. 

If you would like take action to support farmers on public lands

Email office@nfuontario.ca to join the NFU/ NFU-O Farmland Tenure Working Group , and/ or send us your questions or concerns about farming on public land in Ontario and have your voice heard.