The Ontario Farmland Trust (OFT), in partnership with the University of Guelph’s School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD), is proud to announce that our jointly delivered graduate course, RPD*6290 – Planning for Farmland Conservation, has received an Honourable Mention in the Excellence in Agri-Food Education category at the 2025 Ontario Excellence in Agriculture Awards.
The announcement was made on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair during the annual awards ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. The Excellence in Agriculture Awards celebrate leadership, innovation, and impact across Ontario’s agriculture and food sector. These awards recognize individuals and organizations whose work is strengthening the agri-food system, supporting sector competitiveness, building public understanding, and advancing Ontario’s local food economy.
This recognition highlights the success and growing impact of RPD*6290 – Planning for Farmland Conservation, a first-of-its-kind graduate course in Ontario that equips emerging planners and agricultural professionals with the knowledge, skills, and applied experience needed to address the urgent issue of farmland loss. Delivered in close collaboration between OFT and SEDRD, the course blends academic rigour, policy analysis, conservation practice, and experiential learning through guest lectures, field visits, municipal toolkits, and engagement at OFT’s Farmland Forum.
The course launched as a pilot in 2024 with 11 students. Following overwhelmingly positive feedback, strong demand, and clear evidence of impact, it is now an official elective within the Rural Planning and Development program, and enrolment tripled in 2025 to 30 students. Many students have already gone on to roles in municipal planning, provincial policy, farmland preservation, and rural research, applying the skills gained through this course to real-world agricultural land use planning across Ontario.
The creation of this course was made possible through the generous seed funding from the OAC Alumni Foundation, whose support enabled OFT to design and deliver an innovative educational model in partnership with the University of Guelph.
“We are deeply honoured to receive this provincial recognition,” says Martin Straathof, Executive Director of OFT. “Developing and delivering this course alongside Dr. Sara Epp has been a great privilege. The students who participated in the course were exceptional. They are the future of land use planning in Ontario, and their passion, rigour, and commitment to safeguarding our agricultural landscapes give me tremendous hope. This Honourable Mention reflects their hard work, as well as the collective effort of all those who believe in protecting Ontario’s farmland for future generations.”
OFT also extends sincere thanks to all of our supporters, donors, and partners whose ongoing contributions make this work possible. Your commitment to farmland preservation enables OFT not only to deliver high-quality educational initiatives like RPD*6290, but also to provide sector-wide learning opportunities through our annual Farmland Forum, webinars, community presentations, and emerging educational programs.
As Ontario continues to face the pressing challenge of farmland loss, OFT remains committed to advancing education, building sector capacity, and supporting the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of agricultural planning and agri-food resilience in the province.
We invite those who share our commitment to protecting Ontario’s farmland to support this work.
To contribute, please visit ontariofarmlandtrust.ca/donate or contact our Resource Development Manager, Rachel Hopf, at 519-781-3276. Your support directly strengthens our ability to safeguard farmland, build educational capacity, and protect the land that feeds Ontario.