The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $14.6 million through the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) to help farmers improve their farmland and build long-term resiliency. This investment aligns with the Grow Ontario Strategy, aiming to equip farmers with tools to remain competitive amid U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainties.
An additional $9.6 million is allocated to the RALP Marginal Lands Initiative, delivered by Conservation Ontario, to support the creation or enhancement of natural features on marginal agricultural lands, such as wetlands and pollinator habitats. The program also connects farmers to technical support and organizations to facilitate large-scale environmental projects, including carbon sequestration and emission reduction.
Up to $5 million is being directed to the RALP Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Initiative, delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), to fund initiatives like planting grasslands and trees, reducing tillage, and building water retention features. These improvements aim to strengthen farmers’ resilience to extreme weather, enhance soil and water health, and boost biodiversity.
This investment is part of Sustainable CAP, a five-year, $3.5-billion federal, provincial, and territorial program designed to enhance competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency in Canada’s agriculture sector. The program includes $1 billion in federal programs and $2.5 billion in cost-shared provincial and territorial initiatives.
Government officials emphasized the importance of supporting farmers as stewards of their land, highlighting the benefits of sustainable practices in protecting soil, water, and the broader food system. Conservation Ontario and OSCIA officials noted that RALP provides farmers with resources to enhance productivity, environmental stewardship, and long-term land resilience.
RALP is providing up to $56.7 million over five years to support carbon sequestration and other sustainable practices across Ontario. Information on the Marginal Lands Initiative is available on Conservation Ontario’s website, with the request for proposals opening on September 22, 2025. Additional initiatives, such as the Community Pastures Initiative delivered by the Ontario Forage Council, are enhancing grazing land productivity for livestock farmers.
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