A few Ontario municipalities have adopted “plant-based food procurement” policies. These policies encourage schools, hospitals, community centres, and other public institutions to buy more plant-based foods and, in some cases, reduce or phase out animal-based foods to address climate change, protect biodiversity, and improve food security.

Ontario’s food and farming sector supports a balanced food system. Our farms grow and raise more than 200 different food and farm products, from fruits and vegetables, grains and oilseeds, and dairy to eggs, poultry, beef, pork, and specialty crops.

We also support food processors, rural jobs, the environment, and community well-being – and believe that policy decisions should reflect the full, balanced picture of Ontario’s food system.

Challenge: Many plant-based procurement proposals focus on reducing animal-sourced foods to meet climate goals.

However, these proposals often overlook:

• How plant and animal agriculture work together
• Strong animal-care legislation and standards
• Ontario’s local food processing sector and the jobs it supports
• The critical role of livestock in soil health, nutrient recycling, and carbon storage
• The diversity of foods needed to meet nutrition needs, cultural food traditions, and community expectations

Without balanced information, policies may unintentionally harm local farmers, processors, rural communities, and the availability of diverse, affordable foods in public institutions.

Solution: Farmers are already making major investments in environmental stewardship, animal care, soil health, and climate solutions – and the agri-food sector is one of the biggest pillars of the Ontario economy.

Ontario agri-food is:

• $51 billion+ generated for Ontario’s economy
• 867,000+ jobs for 10% of the provincial workforce
• $28 billion in agri-food exports*[1]

We can help ensure municipal decision-makers have the fact about how Ontario produces both plant and animal foods. This supports procurement decisions that reflect real sustainability progress and support local jobs, a healthy planet, and a home grown food system.

Why animal agriculture matters

Economic impact

Agriculture and food processing contribute over $51 billion to Ontario’s economy each year and support hundreds of thousands of jobs. Livestock, dairy, and poultry farming are major parts of that economic engine. They create:

• Jobs on the farm, in processing and across the economy in transportation and related industries
• Local demand for feed, veterinary care, equipment, trucking, and building trades
• Business for retailers, processors, and manufacturers including in Ontario’s biggest cities

Canada-wide, livestock-production alone supports close to 400,000 jobs [2]

A big drop in public-sector purchases of animal-based foods could cause financial strain for farms, food processors, and rural communities.

DID YOU KNOW?
10% of Ontario’s jobs are directly tied to the agri-food sector

Food security and community well-being

Ontario’s food system is built on diversity. We grow and raise more than 200 different food and farm products, and plant and animal agriculture depend on each other. For example:

• Animals are upcyclers, helping re-use crop residues, damaged or “ugly” crops like carrots or potatoes that can’t be marketed, or waste products from food processing like distillers’ grains that would otherwise go to landfill
• Manure enriches soil and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizer
• Mixed farms that grow crops and raise livestock help keep jobs strong year-round

Limiting entire categories of food in public institutions can reduce food choices, make it harder to serve culturally appropriate meals, and weaken local purchasing relationships.

Environment and climate solutions

Plant-based campaigns often claim animal agriculture is incompatible with climate goals, but that’s not the case.

Livestock farms, especially pasture- and hay-based ones, keep significant amounts of carbon out of the atmosphere and protect green spaces and natural habitats.

In fact, Canadian farmers have already taken major steps to reduce environmental impact across all sectors of agriculture. Examples include:

• Keeping the ground covered with crops year-round and working the land less to prevent soil erosion
• Improving how manure is stored and used so nutrients stay on the land and out of waterways
• Using smarter animal nutrition to lower the environmental footprint per litre of milk or kilogram of meat
• Managing pastures to protect biodiversity and store carbon
• Restoring wetlands, planting trees and improving soil health

What’s the outcome? Canada has some of the lowest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from beef and pork production, for example, any where in the world: outclassing even Western Europe, South American and Australia. [3]

DID YOU KNOW?
Ontario’s pastures, hayfields, and long-lasting forage crops act like giant sponges, soaking up and storing millions of tonnes of carbon each year.

Public perception and social impact

Plant-based food campaigns can influence how the public views farmers and the kind of food Ontario produces. If the narrative focuses only on the negatives, it can harm:

• Consumer confidence
• The mental health of farm families
• Long-standing partnerships between farmers, processors, and public institutions

Ontario’s food system works best when it offers choice, balance, and nutrition for everyone—including plant-based and animal-based foods.

More information:

OFA continues to monitor plant-based procurement initiatives and is sharing information with governments, partners, and the public to ensure procurement decisions reflect the full value of Ontario’s agriculture and food system.

More information and resources are available at ofa.on.ca.

[1] Source: In 2024, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Agribusiness statistics

[2] https://livestockresearch.ca/uploads/assets/files/Forces-Impacting-Animal-Agriculture-in-Canada-A-Synthesis-1.pdf

[3] https://livestockresearch.ca/forces_impacting_animal_agriculture_in_canada