Friends of Agriculture in Nova Scotia

Vision - Healthy fields, farms, and food for current and future Nova Scotians.    

Mission - to educate ourselves and others with regard to local and global  issues, to craft policies that will help provide solutions, and to advocate for food security and sovereignty within a "big picture" interconnected framework.

Local and global issues:

1.     the local and global economic and financial crisis

2.     global and regional trade policies that continue to have negative impacts on local agriculture

3.     the impacts of global climate change and global warming on our capacity to produce food and thus on the need for shifts to Agricultural polices that are ecologically sustainable

4.    the impacts of 'the end of cheap oil' on food security and agricultural policy especially the implications for fossil fuel derived inputs like gasoline for farm vehicles and fertilizers

5.  the impact of water scarcity linked to climate change and contamination

Imagine for a moment if we once again knew, strictly as a matter of course, these few unremarkable things: What it is we're eating. Where it came from. How it found its way to our table. And what, in a true accounting, it really cost.  Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma

On Thursday evening September 12^th, 2008, a group of concerned individuals met in Wolfville to explore the opportunity to share our concerns and learn more about food and agriculture. Each member of the group had a few minutes to introduce themselves and talk about their concerns, issues and possible solutions. It was decided to come together as a Food Security / Food Sovereignty coalition of concerned citizens and groups, which could be called FANS, for Friends of Agriculture in Nova Scotia.

FRAMEWORK:
The group agreed that the we should frame our mission as food sovereignty within a "big picture" interconnected framework, and within a context that recognizes how global trends require a major local perspective shift with regard to how we feed ourselves and the population and the kind of agricultural / horticultural polices we foresee for the future.

FOOD SECURITY / FOOD SOVEREIGNTY:  
We looked at two frameworks -
1) Food Sovereignty is not the same as "food security". A country can have food security through food imports but dependence on food imports is precarious and prone to multiple risks -- from price risks, to supply risks, to conditionality risks (policy  conditions that come with food imports). Food sovereignty, on the other hand, implies ensuring domestic production and supply of food. It means that citizens of the country or at the region must primarily be responsible for ensuring that the nation and the region are first and foremost able to depend on their own efforts and resources to grow their basic foods.  http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/08/editorials/tandon.htm

ii) Food Security Principles of Vandana Shiva. Shiva is a nationalist who advocates localization of food production and hence food sovereignty. Shiva's Food Security Principles emphasize the importance of extricating ourselves from global and regional trade polices that favour large corporations and profit over people and the planet.

FIRST STEPS

1. EDUCATION
We will educate ourselves and help to inform the public - these may be slightly different as there was agreement that the public might not want as quite as much information and detail and depth in terms of analysis and policies. There was also agreement that we need to understand how the present trade polices impact agriculture and our ability to shift to more local/sovereign policies (even buy local campaigns in the US have been cited as possible impediments to NAFTA and global corporate profits.

With a view to this we agreed to start with the a showing of a very good Food Security video that documents how the global corporate model is attempting to control world food supplies through Genetically Modified food, through a Codex Alimentation regime that is working to prevent labeling, through global corporate trade and finance policies etc. This would be followed by a panel of experts who would discuss the impact at the local level. Edith Callaghan, Executive Director of Acadia's Learning Academy for the Environment will facilitate larger group meetings on the Acadia Campus.

2. NETWORKING
Reach out to all who are involved in this issue - citizens, farmers, NGOs, economists, peak oil specialists, trade experts, politicians, and others, and foster networking of and with all groups involved in the issues.

3. CRAFT POLICES RECOGNIZING THE PARADIGM HAS SHIFTED

Craft policies that we would like to see in place after educating ourselves about the best alternatives to present systems. In a time of rapid change it is easy to critique existing models – however, we realize that those models were put in place at another time politically, economically and with a different set of assumptions, knowledge base, and values informing the decisions. We need to understand the principles of the alternative economic system within which our food production will evolve as resources diminish.

3a. DRAFT WHITE PAPER
Prepare a white paper that presents the best solutions we have been able to ascertain for resilient agriculture and food security in Nova Scotia, and take our findings to government leaders and advocate for appropriate policies.

Submitted by
Janet M Eaton, PhD, and Linda Best, September 19th 2008, for -
PH-S, EC, LO'N, LW, JMcM, PC, WZ, SH, AP, AS, GP, JS, MLH, RM, SF, TP, LB, LC, FW, DF, PMcM, SB, NB, LY 

A wonderful multi-course dinner celebrating local food and beverages was held last Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at the Old Orchard Inn, Greenwich. Fifteen local Chefs prepared locally-sourced food paired with local beverages for over 300 people. Farmers and producers attended and many conversations about farming and local food took place. People gained greater awareness of the wide range in April of food harvested last year and of new spring crops that are already available. Many guests discovered Chefs and Restaurants and recipes and wines that were new to them, and everyone was effusive in their praise for our local treasures.  

The Minister of Agriculture, Mark Parent, and the Minister of the Environment, David Morse, both spoke about the incredible variety of food available in this Province, and the contributions of agriculture to all aspects of our lives. Minister Parent noted that the Province has now established an Agricultural Land Review Committee to provide advice on what processes should be put in place to preserve agricultural land and to protect the interests of all Nova Scotians. Concern for present and future food security is causing more people to support local production and to buy local food. Consumers are beginning to take back responsibility for food – choosing healthy, safe, and sustainable over other alternatives.  

The President of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, Richard Melvin, told the guests that the NSFA and Friends of Agriculture share a vision of healthy fields, farms, and food for the people and the communities of Nova Scotia now and in the future. He said that it has become crucial to bring together representatives of all stakeholder groups to develop a food policy for the Province. Recent GPI Atlantic publications and Department of Agriculture statistics underline the risk to food security posed by low farm incomes and increasing costs of production. The growing public support for local food is helping to improve farmers’ incomes. Events such as April Flavours and the Incredible Picnic help by bringing people together to foster community awareness of shared interests and concerns.

With the assistance of Town Crier Lloyd Smith, April Flavours hosted the launch of Applelicious and the Spirit of Nova Scotia Local Food Awards. Applelicious, an Apple Blossom Festival event, celebrates apples from a food, fun and industry perspective from May 2 to June 14. David Cudmore, CEO of Scotian Gold, suggested that people look for restaurants featuring Applelicious menu items, community Applelicious events and apple orchards displaying the Annapolis Valley Original signs at www.appleliciousvalley.com. Chef Michael Howell of Tempest Restaurant cut an apple to officially launch the program. Dr. Ralph Martin then launched the 2^nd Annual Spirit Awards that celebrate significant contributions to the local food movement. Members of the public are invited to nominate their choice for producer, non-profit, and business at www.selectnovascotia.ca for prizes that will be awarded at the Incredible Picnic in August.

During the dinner Cuckoo Moon, a local musical group, entertained the guests with original songs that celebrate life and music.

A successful silent auction of donations from local businesses raised money for the Acadia Sustainable Garden and for local School Gardens.

Displays by agricultural and community groups emphasized the importance of insuring that Nova Scotia has a sustainable local food system. Many of the foods we eat travel great distances - at great cost to the environment, to our health, and to the Nova Scotian economy. Every job in agriculture in NS contributes to our sustainability, supports additional jobs and helps retain our rural heritage. The value of supporting all aspects of local community was emphasized.

April Flavours was presented by The Arthur Irving Academy for the Environment, Gaspereau Vineyards, Friends of Agriculture in Nova Scotia, Select Nova Scotia, Spirit Nova Scotia, Taste of Nova Scotia, Food Action Committee of the Ecology Action Centre, Kings County Federation of Agriculture, Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, Organic Council of Nova Scotia, Wolfville Farmer’s Market, and Dandelion Community Investment Cooperative.