On May 21^st and 22^nd, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) was proud to represent Ontario’s agri-food sector at the 2025 Ontario Biodiversity Summit: Our Turning Point in Nature, held in Peterborough-Nogojiwanong. This year’s summit made one thing clear: Ontario is at a pivotal moment for nature, and agriculture has a vital role to play in shaping a more sustainable future.

As a long-standing member of the Ontario Biodiversity Council, now celebrating its 20^th anniversary, OFA joined partners from across sectors – including environmental organizations, government, academia, industry, and Indigenous communities – all focused on the same goal: turning meaningful conversations into real, lasting action for nature and for future generations.

The summit highlighted the power of collaboration. Whether we’re talking about biodiversity loss, climate change, or land use pressures, one thing is clear: We need to work together. For OFA, it was a strong reminder of the role that farmers already play – and opportunities ahead – in supporting healthy landscapes while producing the essentials we all rely on, such as food, fibre, fuel, and flowers.

On May 22^nd, the International Day for Biological Diversity, we were reminded that biodiversity loss is not a distant threat. It’s happening right now. Farmers understand this better than most. We live and work on the land and know firsthand how important healthy ecosystems are to the success of our farms and the health of our communities. Throughout the event, OFA emphasized how agriculture and nature go hand-in-hand; from resilient soils to clean water, thriving ecosystems are critical to the long-term success of Ontario’s agri-food system. By working in harmony, we can support both productive farms and vibrant natural systems.

As Ontario moves toward implementing its renewed Biodiversity Strategy, OFA will remain at the table to ensure that agriculture continues to be recognized as a key partner in building a more sustainable future.