Hay River, agrifood group sign formal agreement over ex-NFTI land

Hay River has signed a stewardship agreement with the Territorial Agrifood Association to redevelop the former NFTI site, with a focus on long-term agricultural sustainability and local food security.

Town senior administrator Glenn Smith said the partnership supports ongoing work at the site, which was heavily impacted by the 2023 wildfires that “destroyed all the abandoned assets out there” and significantly altered the landscape.

Founded in 2013, NFTI – which stands for Northern Farm Training Institute – was a hands-on learning centre designed for people to gain skills in farming, food production and sustainable agriculture.

It ultimately ceased operations after years of internal challenges, including governance issues, funding complications and disputes over its activities. In 2024, the Town of Hay River sought public input on the future of the former farmland.

With support from United Way NWT, the town has been advancing cleanup, remediation and planning for the NFTI site’s future agricultural use.

Last year, United Way provided nearly $1 million to support efforts aimed at “re-establishing Hay River as the agriculture hub of the North.” The nonprofit has now contributed additional funding, including $100,000 earmarked to help infrastructure planning for the likes of road access, power and irrigation.

Smith said the new agreement is intended to bring specialized expertise into the project at a critical stage.

“Key to agricultural development is having land, and land access throughout the Northwest Territories – but especially in Hay River – is quite restricted,” he said.

“This is a very attractive parcel that’s serviced and has good soils and has utilities and is in a prime location, so it’s one step towards advancing the Town of Hay River’s agricultural goals.”

One of the key priorities is road access to the site, which would be necessary to support both early-stage testing and future development, he said.

Planning work also includes the systems required to prepare the land for agricultural use, including irrigation.

Overall, the work is expected to take at least a couple of years.

Smith suggested that by the end of 2027, the town could be in a position to begin marketing the land for agricultural development, depending on progress. According to him, the agrifood association’s connections within the agricultural sector could help attract interest.

“Both have similar interests in advancing growing in the North,” he said.

Territorial Agrifood Association executive director Janet Dean said the project aims to transform the damaged land into productive farmland while avoiding the financial and operational challenges that affected the site in the past.

After the 2023 wildfires, the NFTI site had damaged infrastructure and degraded soil.

Initial work by the town focused on safety and cleanup, removing hazardous trees and addressing damaged power infrastructure. Dean said it became clear that a longer-term vision was needed to prevent the land from sitting unused or reverting to unmanaged growth.

According to her, TAA is working with Wilfrid Laurier University to determine what soil amendments are needed to improve the site’s sandy soil and restore fertility.

Work is also under way to identify and map water sources on the property, which she described as a critical step given the region’s limited water availability and the importance of irrigation.

Dean said partnering with the town is intended to move the project beyond basic remediation toward a more strategic, agriculture-focused approach to rebuilding the site.

The goal is for the area to “strengthen local food systems and actually be productive agricultural lands again,” she said.

The TAA said it is engaging with local producers and residents to better understand gaps in the regional food system. That feedback will help guide decisions about what types of crops or agricultural activities could be supported on the site.

The project involves environmental challenges like invasive species such as sweet white clover, which can limit productivity if not controlled.

Other potential uses being explored include forage production and grazing, as well as broader agrifood business opportunities that could operate sustainably in the North.

Dean said one area of interest is growing grain locally to support Hay River’s poultry sector, potentially reducing reliance on imported feed.

While the location continues to be widely known as the old NFTI site, TAA refers to it as a “Field site” – an acronym for Farming Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Learning and Demonstration.

Dean said the name reflects a broader vision for the property as a place to test new approaches, support business development and provide learning opportunities for the community. A permanent name will be developed in the coming years.

“Remediation is one thing and land maintenance is one thing, but this is agricultural land and it needs a very specific agricultural lens,” she said.

“I think that’s where the town’s been very good at understanding this is kind-of like a jewel in the crown. This isn’t just land. This is very important land for food security, food sovereignty.”