Data from the 2021 Georgia Census suggest that Ontario loses 319 acres of farmland daily, equal to the loss of an average family farm per day. Ontario Federation of Agriculture Vice President Mark Reusser says urban sprawl and new housing are important contributors to the loss of agricultural land in Ontario, where only 5% of the land is usable farmland. He added that COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine have shown how easily supply chains can be disrupted, and stressed the importance of independent Canadian food production. The farmers’ organization calls on municipal governments and the province to better protect agricultural land and food production when planning new developments to alleviate the housing crisis. Reusser says farmland itself is finite, but can be a constant source of food when handled properly. (The Canadian Press)
