Ontario's farmlands are vital for agricultural production, contributing significantly to the economy despite facing declining numbers due to urban development. The global water crisis, marked by depleting aquifers, poses threats to food security, with countries like China and the U.S. heavily affected. Strategies to protect farmland and water resources are essential for sustaining agricultural output and ensuring food supply for the future.

1. Ontario Farmlands

2. Where do Farmlands Come from?
That answer is as easy as dirt!
Aggregate distribution governs all aspects of the surface and
subsurface geological characteristics of an area. Aggregates
shape topography, mineral contents and ph levels
influencing the plants that grow and the species that thrive.
Aggregate distribution impacts water quality, water volumes,
water flow and flow rates heading to wells and tributaries. It's
role in retaining water, either above or below the ground,
impacts atmospheric temperatures. It supports a web of
biodiversity both above and below and in soil layers. It helps
to controls floods, prevents drought and provides water for
agriculture, tributaries, lakes and rivers which supports
communities and industries.
Aggregates are the keystone for all of this!

3. A View of Ontario's Farmlands
2011 Census of Agriculture
Ontario has the biggest agricultural output as
measured by farm cash receipts, with 12.6
million acres in agricultural production, just 5.6%
of Ontario’s land base.
Though Ontario has less than a quarter of the
farmland of either Saskatchewan or Alberta, the
combination of soil and climate mean yields on
Ontario farmland are often double or more than
that of the Prairies.

4. Farming in Ontario = $50 billion/year
Direct employment in the automotive sector in 2010 was
31,500, while food processing hit 127,000.
The Alliance of Ontario Food Processors also reported the
farming created an additional 90,000 jobs.
In 2010, the auto sector had $43.6 billion in revenue in Ontario,
while food processing, agriculture products and farming
grossed nearly $50 billion.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/food-processing-beats-auto-industry-ontario-report-says-110736478.html

5. Farmlands in Ontario at risk
Number of farms in Ontario dropped 9.2%
from 2006 to 2011
The area farmed in the province fell 4.8%
from 2006 to 2011.

6. The reason for decline of Ontario farms:
“It’s subdivisions, it’s shopping malls,
it’s roads,” said Mark Wales, president of
the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
“We’re developing good farmland that in
the long run will not be available to grow
food, fibre and fuel for the world.”

7. Mark Wales, President of
Ontario Federation of Agriculture states:
“Canada is expected to be one of only
six countries in the world to be a net
exporter of food.”
http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2012/06/04/19836431.html

8. Global water & food crisis due to declining aquifers
World's largest aquifer going
dry
The Ogallala aquifer is the world's
largest underground water system,
irrigating one-third of the US corn
crops and providing drinking water to
Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New
Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota,
Texas and Wyoming. It’s one of the
fastest-disappearing aquifers in the
world and the water is not coming
back. ( Associated Press)
China's north that produces food for
400 million people is running out of
water because they are depleting the
underground aquifers.
Thomas Fingar, chairman and deputy director
US National IntelligenceCouncil and
The failure of governments to limit
pumping to the sustainable yield of
aquifers means that water tables are now
falling in countries that contain more than
half the world's people, including the big
three grain producers--China, India, and
the United States.
Lester R. Brown,Earth Policy Institute, Washington D.C.

9. According to the Word Bank:
Drought-affected areas would increase from 15.4% of
global cropland today, to around 44% by 2100.
The most severely affected regions in the next 30 to
90 years will likely be in southern Africa, the United
States, southern Europe and Southeast Asia.
http://climatechange.worldbank.org/content/climate-change-report-warns-dramatically-warmer-world-century

10. Agricultural lands WITH WATER are in high demand.
• Countries such as China, Korea and the United Arab Emirates are buying or leasing agricultural
land to help meet their own food needs.
The International Food Policy Research Institute
• The World Bank estimates that demand for food will rise by 50 percent by 2030.
The National Intelligence Council’s Global Trends 2025
• Global Economist project that agricultural lands will surpass the value of development lands in
the near future due to rising oil production costs, population increases, higher standard of living, water
shortages climate change and drought.
First photo: China, Second Photo: The US Third: Waterloo Ontario

11. 2012 view of US Drought

12. US drought resulted in toxic feed
Cattle are being poisoned by cyanide-laced weeds in Arkansas. Across the
Midwest water-soluble fertilizers are concentrating in soils and plants, making
them harmful rather than productive. And in Missouri, samples suggest that
more than half the corn crop isn't fit for human consumption, thanks to
unusually high levels of nitrogen. There was not enough water for
photosynthesis and high nitrate build up made the corn toxic.
http://current.com/10b70kc

13. Atrazine contaminated US water supplies.
Drought and depleted aquifers reduced groundwater to dilute.

14. This is Africa

15. This is America's Midwest in 2012

16. Think Globally

17. Act Locally!
Protect our A1 farmlands and primary recharge areas
from quarries and development.
Save Don't Pave
Primary Recharge Areas
Expand the Greenbelt

18. Save food and water resources
for generations to come!