Coates Food Sovereignty Long

Nature’s Route Farmand

FOOD SOVEREIGNTY

Kent and Ruth CoatesNature’s Route Farm785 Route 16Point de Bute, NB E4L 2P1(506) [email protected]

1. Put a Face on Farming

2. Growing Food

3. Sustainable• Environmentally Responsible• Farm Ecology• SAFE FOOD!!! • Farm Income

4. Canadian Agriculture and Food

5. Consumer Options

Nature’s Route Farm

Outline

1. Despite working almost 2 hours a day longer than the average Canadian, farmers donate more time to their community (by more than an hour per week).

2. Average Farm Household makes 3.2% less than Average Canadian Household

3. 1996-2001 = 10% fewer farmers in Canada4. Almost half of all farmers have to work off the

farm.5. Canadian Farmers grow high quality food that

meets stringent Health Canada requirements.


Who are our Farmers?

1. 74000 (30%) farm operators will retire within 15 years

2. Retiring Farmers own ½ Canadian Farm Assets

3. 75% of Retiring Farmers have not designated a successor.

4. Farmers DO NOT want their children to Farm.


Who are our Farmers?


What do Farmers Do?Executive Director

Business Planner

Technician

Accountant

MechanicCarpenterMachinery Operator Labourer

Supervisor

Veterinary

Marketing


Why is Farming Important?

Globally - 6,600,000,000 people and growing

- 886kg (1950lbs*) of food/person/year (US)

- 5,850,000,000,000kg of food per year

New Brunswick-750,000 people 1,462,500,000 lbs of food per year!!!

-We import about 85% of our food (1,200,000,000lbs per year)

All Food Should Come from Farms *The ERS Food Consumption (Per Capita) Data System.

*United Nations 1993

http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/foodconsumption/

Nature’s Route Farm GROWING FOOD

Soil Nutrients• The Source of Agriculture Pollution• Manure vs Synthetic Fertilizer• Compost• Nutrient Transport Cycle• Green Manures

Soil pH • Limestone in Atlantic Canada

Soil Life • Compost Tea• Composted Manure

Maximize Nutrient Availability!!!

Food

Sewage


1. Weed Control• Soil Preparation – rotate crops to break weed cycle• Planting Timing – false seeding, minimum tillage• Manual Weeding• Herbicides (not used at Nature’s Route Farm)

2. Insect Control• Rotation of Crops – break insect’s life cycle• Planting Timing – Avoid insect’s damaging life stage• Manual Removal• Predatory Insects• Insecticides


3. Fungus Control• Rotate Crops – avoid build up of spores• Integration or Removal of Crop Waste• Keep plants strong• Avoid Spread – not touching beans when wet• Fungicides (not used at Nature’s Route Farm)

4. Animal Control• Predators – Fencing, Companion Animals and Dogs• Herbivores – Electric Fencing


WeatherRain – Too much

• Rots seeds• Poor Germination• De-nitrification• Soil Disposition is a major factor• Soil Health improves drainage• Humidity

Rain – Too Little• Poor germination • Small yields• Soil Disposition is a factor• Soil Health improves water retention

Wind – damages crops, especially with rain, blows buildings awayLightning – Burns Chicken Coops…

Nature’s Route Farm SELLING AND MOVING FOOD

Wholesale – economy of scale – agri-business

Retail • Marketing • Time Consuming• Large Overhead

CSA – Community Supported Agriculture• Reduces marketing• Provides Consumers with Really Fresh, SAFE Food

Nature’s Route Farm SUSTAINABILITY

Environmentally ResponsiblePesticides - Health Canada – Elimination of Persistent Chemicals

Prudent Use of Nutrients – Manure and Synthetic

Minimize High Energy Transportation -Minimize Distance

-Surface Transport


Farm System

Grow Desired Crops

Feed Animals Local Grain and Grass

Grow Green Manures, Catch Crops and Ground

Covers

Apply Composted Manure and Soil Amendments


SAFE FOOD!!!

Know what is in your Food.


Income• Fresh and Local Food requires Canadian Farmers

to receive a fair price for their produce. • The alternative is non-controllable imported food.

Nature’s Route Farm Canadian Agriculture

“Sleeping Giant” – We import so much food people do not realize how much our agriculture has eroded.


-Farmers’ Reputation-Pollution

-Tax Dollars


-Loss of Knowledge Set

-Loss of Canadian Infrastructure

-Loss of Young Farmers


-Infrastructure vs. InsuranceUntil 2005 Food Prices Dropped (75% from 1974-2005)

Agribusiness runs on credit

Biofuel or Food?


How has this Happened?-Labelling Laws – Product of Canada or Made in Canada?

-Increase cost and regulation of production in Canada

-Climate and Climate Change

-Uncontrolled imported Food

-Lack of Political Will (cheap food policy)

Nature’s Route Farm What Can Consumers Do?

Michael Pollan – In Defense of Food- Buy REAL Food- Buy food from where it is grown

Mark Bittman – Food Matters

Demand healthy food grown to HEALTH CANADA standards!

Nature’s Route Farm What Can Consumers Do?

Options:

Buy from Farmer – Directly– Farmers’ Markets– CSAs

Buy from Farm Stands (usually locally food)

Choose Carefully at the National Grocers

Buy Whole Foods – not processed food.

Nature’s Route Farm Conclusion

Food Sovereignty:

Community Food Security is about Controlling Our Food.

Without Canadian Agriculture we will be largely unable to control our food.

Questions?