Equitable Land Access for Food Growing

Access to land for food growing in the Capital Region is limited due to rising land costs, competing land uses, and ongoing systemic barriers that disproportionately impact new and equity-denied growers. While interest in local food production, cultural food growing, and community-based agriculture is growing, pathways to secure, affordable, and appropriate land, are a primary challenge which significantly limits the region’s ability to advance food security, food sovereignty, climate resilience, and inclusive economic participation.

The Equitable Land Access initiative, led by Iye Creative and CRFAIR in partnership with community, government, and regional actors, focuses on improving access to land for food growing through research, community engagement, demonstration and policy development. The project identifies barriers and opportunities within municipal and regional systems, with a particular focus on equity denied groups, advances practical tools and policy recommendations, and supports communities and local governments to activate underutilized public land for food production. This work contributes to a more coordinated, transparent, and equitable approach to land access across the region.

Here you will find reports and resources from the project as well as information about different pathways to land access, with an emphasis on public land. These resources are divided into three sections: