The Ontario Farmland Trust has come a long way! Here’s a recap of some recent news that we are proud to share!
OFT has been awarded with the Conservation Excellence Certification. This is a national program being piloted by the Centre for Land Conservation (CLC) that certifies a land trust’s adherence to the Canadian Land Trust Standards and Practices, a set of high standards for land conservation organizations, ensuring best practices in governance, conservation planning, stewardship, and organizational sustainability. OFT has always been committed to maintaining the highest standards in farmland protection and by achieving this certification, we renew our reputation as an organization that delivers real, lasting conservation outcomes of the highest standards. This certification also serves as a signal that investments in OFT are secure and impactful. For landowners, it means knowing that their land is being protected through a rigorous, transparent, and well-managed process. This certification is an important step in reinforcing our credibility and leadership in the land conservation space.
Another major initiative that’s currently underway is our future vision for Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve (DRAP), with funding provided by the Greenbelt Foundation. DRAP is Ontario’s only designated agricultural preserve and sits adjacent to Rouge National Urban Park. It’s some of the best farmland in Canada, but like so many other agricultural lands, it’s faced many pressures for development. With this project, we will develop a long-term vision for DRAP that ensures its full potential as a cornerstone of the regional food system.
In this work, we are engaging with farmers and community stakeholders to identify challenges and opportunities for farmland preservation, agricultural economic development, and ecological stewardship; offering soil health testing for farmers to inform and support sustainable land management practices; and ultimately developing policy and program recommendations to guide the future of DRAP and ensure its viability for generations to come.
This project is about more than just DRAP. It’s a demonstration of what could be possible if Ontario had more agricultural preserves, and what could happen when agricultural protection is prioritized. I hope it will serve as a case study for what’s possible in other regions across the province. It’s ambitious and needs significant investment so OFT can carry out more landowner engagement and conservation work.
And to that I have some very exciting news to share! OFT has received a $1 million gift to support our work over the next three years! This is a transformational investment that will allow us to accelerate farmland conservation easement project in ways we never could before. This funding will help us develop a regional approach to farmland preservation, allowing us to expand our impact across different parts of the province by hiring regionally-specific farmland conservation coordinators, who will:
- Ensure we can respond to the 70+ landowners currently interested in working with OFT,
- Strengthen relationships with landowners and support them in protecting their farms,
- Increase our ability to develop local partnerships to further our efforts, and
- Support our exponential growth trajectory, because right now, we are busier than ever!
Over the past 20 years, OFT has protected 2,700 acres. We are currently wrapping up 4 projects from last year and are working on 6 additional projects in 2025. Meaning, in the span of 1.5 years alone, we will complete 10 projects covering 1,157 acres across 16 parcels of land. That’s 42% of what we’ve done in two decades, happening in just a year and a half!
And this is only possible because of:
- The dedicated landowners who want to protect their farms,
- The supporters who donate—both large and small, and
- The incredible staff and volunteers who make it all happen.
This investment comes at a critical time when the urgency of farmland protection has never been clearer. It reflects the confidence that key supporters have in our ability to lead this work—and we’re ready to deliver. We will be starting off with a dedicated person in Eastern Ontario where we have yet another exciting initiative…
We have also partnered with the CLC to explore a conservation partnership initiative in Prince Edward County, made possible with financial support from the Consecon Foundation and the Woodcock Foundation. Prince Edward County is a hotspot for farmland loss. Between 2016 and 2021, the county lost 15,044 acres of farmland, a 12% decrease in just five years.
At the same time, OFT has seen significant growth in landowner interest in this region, making it an area where OFT has already been expanding.
Over the next year, OFT and CLC will:
- Engage local stakeholders and community members in consultations,
- Develop a collaborative conservation strategy,
- Work with other conservation organizations to determine the best way forward for the conservation community to accelerate work in Prince Edward County, ensuring that agricultural and ecological landscape protection keeps pace with the demands from local landowners.
All of this work ties directly into OFT’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan, where we have set ambitious but necessary goals:
- Doubling the amount of farmland we protect,
- Expanding our regional capacity to ensure farmland conservation is responsive to local needs,
- Strengthening partnerships to bring more resources and expertise into our work, and
- Engaging more communities and landowners in the movement to protect farmland.
The growth we are experiencing is not by chance. It is the result of years of dedicated effort by folks who came before, as well as our current team of staff and volunteers, and of the time spent on strategic planning. But to sustain this momentum, we need all of you to continue supporting and advocating for farmland protection.
We are in an unprecedented moment for farmland conservation. Interest is at an all-time high, the need is urgent, and we have the growing support and momentum to make a real impact. Please make your donation today to make this vision a reality!
I encourage you to share this news with others and to think about how you can contribute, whether that’s through partnerships, advocacy, or philanthropic support. Thank you for your time, your passion, and your commitment to protecting Ontario’s farmland.
Sincerely,
Martin Straathof, Executive Director