Food and Water First

Food and Water First is a local initiative that has morphed int a larger movement with a mandate to put farmland and the water that feeds it - and us - first. it is a feet on the grounds movement, and you - whoever you are and where ever you live - can get involved. Here below, is a brief history of Food and Water First, in their own words.

Food & Water First is the legacy of the Stop the Mega Quarry campaign that began in Dufferin County northwest of Toronto in 2006. The Highland Companies – a front company for a $27-billion Boston hedge fund – bought 6,500-acres of Class 1 farmland and stated it wanted to become the largest potato producer in Ontario. But, in 2011, it filed an application for the largest quarry in Canadian history on the best soil in the province and at the headwaters of five river systems. The Mega Quarry would have spanned 2,300-acres and plunged 200-feet below the water table. It would have destroyed rare food-producing land and impacted water resources for up to one million people downstream.

Farmers, chefs, First Nations, city-dwellers, environmentalists and artists formed a remarkable alliance. Culinary protests were held to raise awareness about the vital farmland and water resources at risk. Foodstock in Dufferin County 2011 (28,000 people), Soupstock in Toronto 2012 (40,000 people).  In November 2012, one month after Soupstock, Highland withdrew its mega quarry application. Then, in July 2013, a Canadian investment firm, Bonnefield Financial, purchased all 6,500-acres from Highland. It has leased the land to local farmers ensuring the fields remain in food production.

However, the campaign for farmland and water protection continues. The Mega Quarry fight exposed many flaws in current land-use policies. Ontario’s prime farmland and source water regions remain vulnerable to sprawl and aggregate operations even though they’re critical to our food security and Ontario’s $34-billion agri-food sector, the largest in Canada. We believe our prime farmland and water should be protected in perpetuity, not threatened or squandered in perpetuity. We believe it’s time to put Food & Water First.

Food & Water First is a committee of NDACT (North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce).

This video is a part of our ongoing commitment to preserving prime farmland and source water in our home province of Ontario. A collaboration between our team at DOT DOT DASH/Studios on Sustainability, and some friends: cultural historian Stuart Henderson; actress Rachel McAdams; and a number of the farmers and chefs we have been working with for years to help create awareness around Ontario's food security issues - Brent Preston of the New Farm, Carl Cosack of Peace Valley Ranch, Dave Vander Zaag and Michael Stadtländer of Eigensinn. Thanks to all who have been volunteering their time and efforts to make these videos, and this entire campaign, happen. Please share it!