Note from CAPI

Canada’s agricultural landscapes are complex living systems where the health of nature and the success of farming are deeply intertwined. This reality stands in stark contrast to a policy environment that often treats conservation and food production as separate goals. The result is a disconnect often felt on the farm, where programs meant to support environmental stewardship are sometimes perceived as complex, untrustworthy, and misaligned with economic realities.

CAPI, in collaboration with Ducks Unlimited Canada, organized a workshop in mid-July 2025 in Stonewall, Manitoba, which attracted participation from stakeholders across the country, including representatives from industry, government, farm groups, land-use experts, and conservation organizations. The conversations highlighted that despite strong national policies and high producer interest in conservation, the current patchwork of programs is failing to deliver impact at scale. Participants suggested the core challenge is not a lack of will, but a fundamental misalignment between top-down program design and the bottom-up, trust-based, and profit-driven decision-making that defines modern agriculture.

The workshop revealed a desire for a “restart”- a call to move beyond siloed initiatives and build a coherent, systems-based approach that places farmers at the centre. From these shared frustrations, a constructive and consensus-based vision for the future emerged. This report distils that vision beginning with the key takeaways that were consistently raised by participants.

Key Takeaways

• Current programs are a complex patchwork. A coherent, watershed-scale spatial plan is needed to strategically guide investment and align with the realities of farming.
• Conservation should be practical and profitable. Farmer interest is high, but participation is often limited by programs that are overly complex, unprofitable, or disconnected from their operational needs.
• Local organizations should be empowered to lead delivery. Using trusted, local hubs as the primary point of contact can simplify processes, increase participation, and strengthen or rebuild working relationships.
• Environmental outcomes should be rewarded, not just practices. Shifting to an outcome-based model would position stewardship as a viable and profitable business choice for farmers.
• Farmers should have ownership and control of their data. This is a foundational step to address the trust deficit and ensure farmers benefit from the value their on-farm information creates.

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