Governments Strengthening Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability

Canada and Ontario committing over $68 million for on-farm actions

WEST MONTROSE – Through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), the governments of Canada and Ontario are committing more than $68 million in the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Initiative (OASI) to fund three programs designed to support farmers in making their agricultural lands more productive and resilient.

This Initiative includes the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) a $56.7 million, five-year program that will make funds available to eligible farmers to complete projects such as reducing tillage, creating water retention ponds and other projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon.

The Agricultural Stewardship Initiative (ASI) will complement the RALP program by providing a supplemental $5 million, this year, for farmers to modify and adapt their equipment and operating practices.

In addition, the On-Farm Applied Research and Monitoring (ONFARM) program will be expanded and enhanced by an additional $7 million over five years. This program is a continuation from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership and will help farmers understand and communicate best on-farm practices to address and improve their soil health and water quality.

“Our government is committed to building a food supply system that is resilient, competitive and productive to meet the ambitious goals of our Grow Ontario Strategy,” said Lisa Thompson, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “This initiative will be a critical component in giving our farmers the tools they need to make decisions that will enable safe, top-quality food production and agricultural sustainability goals.”

CLICK THIS LINK to read the FULL NEWS RELEASE

All three programs (RALP, ASI, and ONFARM) will be delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA). Note that program details for the land-use RALP categories will be made available this summer and applications will be accepted later this fall.

Sustainable CAP will help enable the goals outlined in Ontario’s Grow Ontario Strategy, which include increasing the amount of food grown in Ontario by 30 per cent over the next 10 years.

“Ontario’s fruit and vegetable growers are continuously investing in and improving their environmental practices to protect the environment and the future of their farms. Proactive investments like these are crucial to supporting Ontario’s farms and protecting domestic food security, especially during this period of high input costs and market instability.”

– Shawn Brenn
Chair, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs