As Ontario agriculture continues to evolve, many farm businesses have diversified through on-farm markets, pick-your-own operations, value-added processing, educational experiences, and agri-tourism. This research examined how land use planning policies can support these innovative enterprises while continuing to protect the province’s valuable agricultural land base.

Prepared in 2006 for the Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association (OFFMA)—now Agritourism Ontario—the study reviewed planning approaches across Ontario, analyzed best practices from other jurisdictions, and developed recommendations to help municipalities create clear, consistent policies that encourage farm diversification and rural economic development.

The project demonstrated that well-designed planning policies can both protect agricultural resources and enable new opportunities for farm businesses. Many of the concepts explored in this research—including on-farm diversification, value-added agriculture, and supportive planning frameworks—have since become widely accepted components of agricultural planning across Ontario.