The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Sustainable Agriculture Initiative advances sustainable agriculture across the region’s States and Provinces to strengthen the region’s agricultural economy; promote sustainable management of natural resources; and, increase resilience and food security.

Agriculture in our region feeds people and fuels the economy. The agriculture industry contributes over $1 trillion (US) to the region's economy and supports more than 6.5 million jobs. However, the industry faces increasing challenges to operate and grow:

• Rising production costs
• Uncertain international markets
• Aging farming cohort
• Loss of available farmland
• Decreased labor availability
• Less predictable weather and more extreme events. 

Beginning farmers also face significant barriers, including high costs of land and equipment, and lack of access to financial resources, technical assistance, and infrastructure

Agriculture is a cornerstone of regional growth. This Initiative ensures agriculture remains central to conversations about the future of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region. The Regional Sustainable Agriculture Initiative catalyzes multi-state and provincial collaboration to address these shared challenges and develop innovative, scalable solutions.

The Initiative will focus its work on five key areas: 

What's Happening Now

In the first year, the Initiative is laying the foundation for long-term impact:

• Regional Research Agenda: Developed by State and Provincial leaders to inform policy and program development.
• Action Agenda: A roadmap to address regional challenges and catalyze multi-state and provincial collaboration.

Coming soon: Pilot projects to test innovative solutions and scale successful practices.