Farmland may seem abundant in Canada, but it is a limited resource. Despite being the second-largest country in the world, Canada is not among the top ten for agricultural land. This land helps feed the country and the world, serves as the starting point for a value chain that includes the country’s largest manufacturing sector, and supports economic growth and Canadians’ well-being. Yet it faces mounting pressures. Urban expansion, housing demand, rising land values, and climate change emphasize the need to boost agricultural production, productivity, and sustainability, while recognizing farmland as a geopolitical asset that strengthens Canadian sovereignty and security—especially in Ontario’s Greenbelt.

This webinar presented insights from the Greenbelt Foundation report, Ontario’s Greenbelt: The Key to Food Security in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, part of the Visioning the Future of the Greenbelt series. The discussion will explore how the Greenbelt can support a strong and resilient agri-food system, highlighting its economic importance, its role in preserving prime farmland, and its contribution to Ontario’s agriculture and food manufacturing cluster. Panelists will also discuss key challenges, including farmland loss, supply chain volatility, trade disruptions, and climate impacts on agriculture.

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