History

Economy

Environment

In 2085, the city of Toronto continued to grow into the most densely populated area of Ontario. The government has fully developed the city and phased out the local green spaces to make room for the abundance of people living in Toronto. Downtown highrises are now topped with greenspaces that house the personal gardens of city residents. After a typical workday, cars congest the main streets and civilians are crammed into subway cars. Outside the downtown Toronto area, green spaces have been preserved and rural communities have begun to thrive. There has been a rise in local farmers markets which have become the essential source for food for rural communities. Residential areas out of the city have also become spread out in clusters that revolve around the small town centers and schools. Smaller neighbourhoods have integrated farming into their backyards and communities have emphasized the value of parks and open fields. Farms are flourishing because of the positive support from the surrounding rural towns. Ontario’s climate within the past 40 years has been trending towards warmer temperatures and harsher conditions which make farming patterns more unpredictable than in the past. Summer weather has gotten warmer and the season continues on until early October. Spring and Autumn seasons have seen a rise in precipitation which has benefited farmers but flooding poses a challenge for farmers as it leads to soil erosion and run-off. Winters are shorter and warmer, which has been challenging for animals as it has affected their reproduction, hibernation, and migration periods. It has also affected the crops grown in Ontario as wheat becomes vulnerable in hot weather and fruit trees are affected by the late frosts (TO CITE).

Education

Early Childhood Education

Rural and suburban children of the late 21st Century enjoyed the luxury of outdoor classrooms, and lessons, more so than that of city children. Moves were made throughout the Greater Toronto Area to incorporate agriculture into science, geography, and social sciences. These shifts, however, were not initially incorporated into the curriculum. Teachers took it upon themselves to educate children on the move towards self-harvesting. As a result, some textbooks became obsolete, certain teachers opting to revamp their whole pedagogies. Opportunities for hands-on learning varied from teacher to teacher, some schools having space for their very own small-scale crops, while others managed visits to nearby farms. Students became fully immersed in the agricultural environment, bridging traditional scientific teachings with ones relevant to the times.

City children, unfortunately, were not afforded this kind of education up until the 22nd century. Toronto itself was limited in terms of agricultural and farming opportunities. Children, therefore, experienced limited education in these realms as well. Unable to obtain the hands-on experience of the suburban and rural child, families began moving to larger plots of land, attempting to provide their children homegrown goods, and homeschool education of such disciplines.

The use of technology, which was at the forefront of 21st Century education, began to dwindle. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was once thought to be the future of education. Some hypothesized that schooling would shift entirely, solely using AI. Yet, the rising food costs, and the decisions of those in rural areas to take supporting their community (and communities nearby) into their own hands, resulted in the nullification of this hypothesis. AI was once again a mere tool, not a threat, whereby one could identify seeds and saplings, soil PH levels, and accurately inform farmers on weather patterns. Students began using AI at a young age, to aid their farming. The result was flourishing crops year-round, through a better understanding of climate, geography, and the crops themselves.

Currently, moves are being made to widen the accessibility of homegrown goods and ensure children are educated on new job opportunities within agriculture, agronomy, and horticulture.

University

In 2085, universities in Toronto remained largely familiar, with lecture halls, research labs, and student centers, but subtle shifts reflect the times. With the Agricultural Act prioritizing food education, science courses now integrate agronomy and urban farming into their curriculums. Botany labs include hands-on lessons in hydroponics, while chemistry classes analyze soil composition. Rooftop gardens are standard features, blending practicality with sustainability.

Although traditional degree programs like engineering, medicine, and business remain popular, there’s a growing emphasis on fields connected to agriculture and self-reliance. Environmental science courses increasingly explore sustainable farming methods, while economics programs analyze the impacts of food inflation and monopolization. Even humanities departments engage with the Agricultural Movement, offering courses on the cultural and historical impacts of food scarcity.

Despite these changes, the university environment feels familiar. Students still gather in libraries, and have to write exams. But they’re also increasingly aware of how their education connects to broader societal challenges. Food-related student initiatives, like campus farmers’ markets and co-op gardening projects, have become as common as intramural sports or debate clubs. As a result of this increased exposure to farming, more students are interested in exploring farming as a career after university.

Financially, universities prioritize funding for agricultural research and sustainability projects, but this focus hasn’t upended the balance of education. Programs unrelated to agriculture continue to thrive, and career aspirations remain mostly diverse. The difference is a heightened awareness among students: learning how to grow food isn’t just a niche interest—it’s a useful life skill.

For most, these changes feel practical rather than revolutionary. Growing a plant in a science class or volunteering in the campus garden may not seem transformative, but in a world where grocery prices are so extreme, these small shifts ensure that the next generation is better equipped to navigate an uncertain future.