Project SOIL (Shared Opportunities on Institutional Lands) explored the potential of on-site food production for public institutions through arrangements with local producers, particularly where access to land for food production is limited and/or expensive. Funded by the New Directions Research Program of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the project built on emerging production models that can flexibly adapt to institutional resources, as well as land tenure models that can contribute to community food production.

Key publications include Project SOIL’s interim report, which highlights key insights and highlights from case studies and pilot projects, and the final report, which summarizes the research’s takeaways about the benefits of on-site food production to institutions, their clients, and the community.