Full podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261019-massey-solar-project-controversy-is Did you know that Ontario lost an average of 319 acres of farmland every single day between 2016 and 2021, according to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture? That's more than 116,000 acres annually, or the equivalent of approximately nine family farms disappearing from agricultural production every week! In this episode of Love the North, Chloe Bichette, founding member of the Massey Wildlife Conservation Committee, raises concerns about a proposed industrial-scale solar project near Massey, Ontario, involving leases covering more than 1,000 acres. Much of this land is part of an agricultural community where farmers grow hay and silage to feed cattle and support local food production. Chloe explains how Mennonite families have helped revitalize farmland throughout the region, establishing farms, creating jobs, and strengthening Northern Ontario's food supply. But now some of that farmland could be used for solar energy production. Ontario already faces enormous pressure from urban development, infrastructure expansion, and competing land uses. With only about 5% of the province's land suitable for agriculture, protecting productive farmland is becoming increasingly important. Chloe questions whether industrial solar developments should occupy valuable agricultural land when other locations could potentially be considered. Renewable energy is important, but so is our ability to grow food locally. Once productive farmland is converted to another use, returning it to agriculture may be difficult, expensive, or impossible. Are we thinking far enough ahead about food security, future generations, and the long-term consequences of losing farmland? Can Ontario expand renewable energy while protecting the land that feeds us? #LoveTheNorth #MasseyOntario #FarmlandProtection #OntarioFarming #FoodSecurity #SolarEnergy #NorthernOntario