Vital Signs Data
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices.
As of July 2025, three PEC farmers have secured permanent land protection of 515 acres through Ontario Farmland Trust, with three more applications to be completed (455 acres).
Between 2006 and 2021, farmland in PEC decreased by 34,706 acres (24%), and cropland declined by 13,239 acres (14%). Cropland includes field crops, fruit and vegetable plantations, and nursery products, but excludes hay, pasture, and woodlots. About 20.5% (22,779 acres) of farmland is natural land used for pasture, woodlands, and wetlands. Beyond food production, farmland also supports carbon sequestration, water filtration, and nutrient cycling.
Other threats to farmland and agriculture
In PEC, the average age of farmers is 58.4 … but 63% of PEC farms do NOT have succession plans. (Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture, 2021) Will this farmland remain in use for agriculture?
Between 2006 and 2021, farmland prices in PEC surged by 257%, rising from an average of $2,450 to $8,747 per acre of farmland and buildings. (Ontario data catalogue) This dramatic increase poses significant challenges for new generations seeking to enter the agricultural sector.
Farmland Trust
The County Foundation hosted a farmland trust information session in March 2023. Ontario Farmland Trust can also work with private landowners to protect properties if they are purely environmental, or use their networks with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to engage in the protection of these properties. (see the recorded presentation to the right)
The popularity of PEC is generating more interest and pressure from developers. The updated Official Plan, beginning July 8, 2021, includes a number of key policies aimed at building strong communities, protecting natural heritage systems, protecting agricultural resources, and protecting human health and safety when considering development in the County.
