Changing Farmland Tenure and Food Sovereignty on the Canadian Prairies

Photo credit: Katherine Aske

Researchers: Annette Desmarais, André Magnan, Mengistu Wendimu, Naomi Beingessner, Hannah Bihun, Melissa Davidson, Katherine Aske, Laura Funk, Darrin Qualman, and Nettie Wiebe

There is growing evidence that investors are acquiring large tracts of farmland around the world.

Critics refer to this phenomenon as 'land grabbing', a process by which elites gain control of farmland at the expense of local communities and farmers. Investors' entry into farmland ownership has the potential to change social and economic relations, and may have broader implications for rural development, environmental conditions, and the viability of family farming. Yet, little research has been done on changing patterns of farmland ownership, concentration, and land tenure in Canada from the ground level; there is also little research on agricultural landlords in Canada and  alternative models of land tenure. These issues are at the heart of this research project on changing farmland tenure and food sovereignty in the Canadian prairies where 71.6% of Canada's total agricultural land is located. 

We gratefully acknowledge that this research was made possible with an Insight Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada.

The specific objectives of this research have been to:

1/ Document changes in farmland ownership patterns in the Canadian prairie region from 2006-2016;

2/ Analyze the social impact and environmental implications of changing farmland ownership; and

3/ Examine the social and policy responses to changes in farmland ownership, including models of land tenure that could contribute to food sovereignty on the Canadian prairies.

Publications associated with this research are listed below. Stay tuned for future publications.

Published peer-reviewed articles

More peer-reviewed work

Photo credit: Katherine Aske

Other publications

Theses

Photo credit: Katherine Aske