March 20th, 2025
The GrandWay
7445 Wellington County Rd 21
Elora, ON
& Online via Zoom
9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Water is essential to all life on Earth, but human activities such as deforestation, intensive agriculture, fossil fuel extraction, and rapid urbanization are putting immense pressure on our watersheds, threatening their health and resilience. The consequences of these actions are far-reaching, jeopardizing not only water quality but also the very farmland that sustains our food production, livelihoods, and economy.
As water resources become increasingly strained, the connection between water protection and farmland preservation has never been clearer. The health of our water systems directly impacts our ability to grow food to secure a stable food supply. The intensifying effects of climate change—more frequent droughts, floods, and extreme weather events—are making this challenge even more urgent.
In agriculture, water has become a critically limited resource, even as demand for it surges to feed a growing population. Ontario farmers and communities now face a fundamental question: How can we protect our water sources while ensuring they continue to nourish the land that feeds us?
The 2025 Farmland Forum provides a vital platform to address this pressing issue. This year’s forum will explore innovative, cross-disciplinary solutions to water management, with a focus on how protecting our watersheds is key to safeguarding Ontario’s farmland. Bringing together farmers, conservationists, planners, and community leaders, participants will learn how integrated watershed management can help mitigate flooding, drought, and other water-related challenges while sustaining agricultural productivity.
Schedule
| 9:00 am | Welcome & Opening Remarks Martin Straathof, Executive Director, Ontario Farmland Trust |
| 9:30 am | Morning Keynote: Climate Change, Farmland, and the Water We Share Jeremy Pittman, Associate Professor and Associate Director of Graduate Studies, University of Waterloo |
| 10:40 AM | Morning Panel: Flowing Together: Collaborative Approaches to Agricultural Water Planning Healthy watersheds are essential for sustainable agriculture, yet increasing pressures from climate change and development threaten water availability. How can we safeguard both our water sources and the future of farming? Experts will dive into the vital connection between watershed protection and agriculture, exploring how governments, conservation authorities, scientists, and farmers can join forces to secure water for food production and thriving rural communities. From tackling climate challenges to innovative water management solutions, this discussion will highlight the strategies needed to protect our water while sustaining Ontario’s farms for generations to come. Speakers: – Martin Keller, Senior Manager, Watershed Planning and Source Protection, Conservation Halton – Jack Imhof, Aquatic Ecologist & Watershed Scientist, Freshwater Conservation Canada (retired) – Merrin Macrae, Professor, University of Waterloo Moderator: Drew Spoelstra, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) |
| 11:55 AM | Plenary: Indigenous Perspectives on Water Conservation Eli Enns, Co-Founder & CEO, IISAAK OLAM Foundation |
| 1:30 PM | OFT’s Current Activities and Projects Martin Straathof, Executive Director, Ontario Farmland Trust |
| 2:00 PM | Afternoon Panel: Farming with Water: Stories of Restoration, Protection and Resilience Hear the inspiring stories and challenges from farmers leading the way in sustainable water management. From wetland restoration to innovative practices that protect water quality and enhance ecosystem resilience, these firsthand accounts highlight the vital role farmers play in safeguarding Ontario’s water resources while building climate-adaptive landscapes. Speakers: – Drake Larson, Farmer, Three Ridges Ecological Farm – Jackie Kelly-Pemberton, Owner/Operator, Pemdale Farms – Alyssa Cousineau, Senior Hub Manager – Great Lakes, ALUS – Rick Kootstra, Farm Manager, Huronview Demonstration Farm Moderator: Tori Waugh, Executive Director, Ontario Soil Network |
| 3:25 PM | Afternoon Keynote: Tools and Strategies for Agricultural Water Management David R. Lapen, Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) |
| 4:15 PM | Final Reflections & Closing Remarks Martin Straathof, Executive Director, Ontario Farmland Trust Margaret Walton, Chair, Ontario Farmland Trust |
Download the Event Program
Speaker Biographies
Tickets
In-person Attendance
- Early Bird Pricing (until March 1):
$140 general
$110 farmer
$60 students
- Regular Pricing
$160 general
$125 farmer
$75 students
In-person attendance includes morning refreshments, lunch, and beverages throughout the day. In-person attendees will have the opportunity to participate in table-switching throughout the event.
All registrants will receive recordings of the sessions after the forum.
Registration for in-person attendance is available until March 13th, 2025.
Online Attendance
- $50 general
$25 students
Online attendees will have the opportunity to participate in small group break-out rooms.
All registrants will receive recordings of the sessions after the forum.
Registration for online attendance is available until March 18th, 2025.
Supported Registrations
To make the 2025 Farmland Forum as accessible as possible, especially for aspiring and equity-deserving farmers, planners, and conservationists, we’re offering student and pay-what-you-can rates for both online and in-person attendance.
For those interested, contact Teresa at [email protected].
Accessibility Information:
In-person
Restrooms: The GrandWay Centre has a non-gendered, wheelchair-accessible bathroom.
Visual & Audio: Presentations will be projected onto a screen and will include captions. Announcements and speakers will use a mic; all audio is projected with a speaker system.
Breaks & Quiet Spaces: We will have 15-minute breaks every 1.5-2 hours, and a 1 hour lunch break. If you need a quiet break during the day, there are comfortable couches in the main lobby.
Scents & Masks: Attendees will be requested to refrain from wearing strong scents. We will have masks available for attendees, but will not require them.
Transportation and Parking: The venue has ample parking available, along with marked spaces out front for those with accessible parking permits. The venue’s entrance includes a ramp.
Alternate Transportation Options: For those without access to a vehicle, unfortunately, the venue is not transit accessible. To mitigate this, upon registration, we ask if attendees are willing to drive another attendee. We will be organizing carpooling from that information. Send an email to [email protected] if you want to attend in person, but would need a ride. Teresa will reach out if a ride becomes available for you. Other options include Guelph Owen Sound Transportation and RIDE WELL. If attending in person is not possible, we hope you will join us online!
Online
Visual & Audio: Automatic captions through Zoom will be available. Announcements and speakers will use a mic; all audio is projected with a speaker system.
Breaks: We will have 15-minute breaks every 1.5-2 hours, and a 1 hour lunch break.
Thank you to our 2025 Farmland Forum Sponsors
If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Rachel Hopf, Resource Development Manager, at [email protected].
