Innovating to Protect and Enhance Quebec's Agricultural Zone

Context

The Development Plan for the Agricultural Zone (PDZA) was adopted by the Quebec government in 2012 to ensure the dynamic occupation of rural areas and the promotion of agricultural activities. In concrete terms, it is a planning document produced by and for regional county municipalities (RCMs). It provides an overview of local agriculture and prioritizes actions to be implemented to support agricultural activities. This planning is carried out in consultation with local stakeholders. These discussions create opportunities that foster the co-construction of a common vision for the development of agriculture in an RCM.

For the past few years, CISA has observed that several RCMs have PDZAs with too many actions for their capacity to implement. Some plans set targets that are too ambitious or beyond reach. As a result, these actions become wishful thinking and undermine the motivation of those coordinating them. It is likely this demobilization contributes to the slow renewal of PDZAs in several MRCs, as they see little impact from the initial plan. Other RCMs report a significant gap between commitments made during drafting and actual involvement during implementation. CISA also observes varying governance models in the implementation of PDZAs. Through this project, it hopes to better understand different governance strategies and their impact on implementing the plans.

At the same time, there is a sense of urgency within the agricultural community. This is evidenced by the explosion in land prices and the cries from the heart of Quebec agricultural businesses. Despite the many efforts made in recent years, arable farmland has been under pressure, jeopardizing the integrity of the agricultural zone and its accessibility to the next generation of farmers. This situation poses major challenges for many rural communities in Quebec that are working to attract new farmers to their territory in order to counter the aging of their population, maintain services to their community, enhance agricultural assets, and contribute to the dynamic occupation of their territory. PDZAs are ideal tools for addressing these major issues, which is why this action research project intends to focus on them.

Project objective

The goal of the project is to support three Quebec RCMs that have recently renewed their PDZAs in developing and implementing innovative solutions related to one of the three issues prioritized by researchers, namely: 1) PDZA governance and funding, 2) establishing the next generation of farmers, and 3) protecting agricultural land. By documenting innovative practices that can be applied by RCMs and transferring this knowledge to them, this project aims to support the adoption and implementation of proven solutions that address priority issues related to the protection and enhancement of agricultural land for agricultural communities in Quebec and across Canada. Finally, this project also aims to create opportunities for networking and knowledge transfer among agricultural development advisors across the province.