31: Is Our Agriculture On The Verge Of Collapse? The Urgent Need For Young Farmers | Sara Dent

In this episode we sit down with Sara Dent, co-founder of Young Agrarians, a Canada-wide network supporting the next generation of ecological farmers. Sara shares the origin story of the movement, her early passion for farming, and the role photography and storytelling played in shaping the Young Agrarians brand. Together, they unpack the urgent need for farm renewal in Canada, address the systemic barriers to land access and funding, and explore creative solutions like land trusts, incubator farms, and micro-loans. Sara emphasizes the human dimension of farming, arguing that technology alone can’t save the food system. She also speaks candidly about the emotional and psychological toll of farming and the importance of community, mental health, and scale-appropriate agriculture. From personal stories to policy insights, this episode paints a compelling picture of what it takes to grow not just food—but farmers.

Young Agrarians: https://youngagrarians.org/

Timestamps

[0:00] Intro

[2:07] Meet Sara Dent and the origins of Young Agrarians

[7:12] Making farming “cool”: early branding and Flickr storytelling

[13:14] What is Young Agrarians and who they serve

[8:41] Canada’s urgent farmer shortage and Quebec’s leadership in farm renewal

[14:29] Why the human connection to land still matters

[23:14] Land access, market failure, and the challenge of farm succession

[36:23] Top-down vs grassroots change: what it really takes

[41:21] Land trusts, incubator farms, and alternate ownership models

[51:10] Growing farmers: from farm-curious to farm business owners

[1:04:04] The policy shift and scaling Young Agrarians across Canada

[1:24:04] Success stories and feedback from the farming community

[1:26:54] Envisioning the future: farm renewal, local food, and climate adaptation

[1:35:27] Rapid fire Q&A and closing reflections

Sponsors

Tessier: Use promo code MGI10 for 10% off and free shipping on your first purchase for the Eastern North American regions

Johnny’s Selected Seeds: Sign up for Johnny’s newsletter to receive the latest news, products, and more. New members get $10 off their next order of $50 or more!

BCS: Visit their website for current sales and promotions.

New Society Publishing: Use code market25 for 25% off all books

Links/Resources

Market Gardener Institute: https://themarketgardener.com

Masterclass: https://themarketgardener.com/courses/the-market-gardener-masterclass

Newsletter: https://themarketgardener.com/newsletter

Blog: https://themarketgardener.com/blog

Books: https://themarketgardener.com/books

Growers & Co: https://growers.co

Heirloom: https://heirloom.ag/

The Old Mill: https://www.espaceoldmill.com/en/

Follow Us