Canada has lost more than five million hectares of farmland since 2001, a decline of over eight per cent that is raising concerns about the country's long-term food security. This loss, equivalent to the total land mass of Nova Scotia, is occurring as the federal government launches a multi-billion dollar National Food Security Strategy aimed at boosting domestic production. Experts point to a combination of urban expansion, industrial development, and rising land costs as the primary drivers behind this trend.
Much of Canada's most productive soil, known as Class 1 land, is located near major urban centers like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. As these cities grow, high-value agricultural land is frequently converted into housing, factories, and commercial infrastructure. This shift is often driven by the fact that land is worth significantly more when developed for non-agricultural use than when it is used for farming.
At the same time, the agricultural sector is facing a generational crisis. The average age of a Canadian farmer is now 56, and there are fewer than 23,000 young farm operators across the country. High land prices, which have risen by 43 per cent since 2021, create a massive financial barrier for new entrants. Many aspiring farmers find it impossible to secure the capital needed to purchase land, while retiring farmers struggle to pass on their operations without forcing the next generation into unsustainable debt.
While Canada remains a net food exporter, the loss of strategic agricultural land makes the national food system more precarious. Without consistent federal requirements to assess the agricultural impact of new developments, prime soil continues to be paved over at a rapid pace. As the country looks toward the 2026 Census for updated data, the debate over how to balance urban growth with the need to protect the foundation of Canada's food supply remains a central economic and social challenge.