Federal and provincial consultations are currently underway for Canada’s next Agriculture Policy Framework (APF). The APF represents billions of dollars of spending that sets the goals of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and provincial Ministries of Agriculture for the next five years. The APF represents a special opportunity to advocate for programs and policies that could support Canadian farmers for years to come. This session is the first part of a series that the NFU is running in collaboration with Young Agrarians and the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario to hear from our members about what they want included in the next APF and to inform you on how to get involved.

Before we look forward to the 2028-2033 APF, Naomi Robert will take us back in time to give us a historical view of the goals of the APF and how they have evolved. Naomi argues that the goals of the APF have shifted from providing support to farmers and rural communities to a broader goal of sector growth, and that two prevailing narratives, industry vs. grassroots support, have emerged in the APF. This narrative analysis sets the stage for the importance of grassroots advocacy on the next APF.

This session will be followed up with organizing session on Thursday, April 16th (Noon PST / 1pm MST / 2pm SK, MB / 3pm EST / 4pm AST) with event facilitators Ayla Fenton, Stuart Oke, and Sophie McCafferty.

Here, we’ll be turning knowledge into action! This session will be a guided conversation about how to mobilize and organize around what we learned in the knowledge-building session on April 9th. Register for both sessions below.

Event Presenter (April 9th)

Naomi Robert

Naomi Robert is a Senior Research and Extension Associate at the Institute for Sustainable Food Systems, at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Her research, teaching, and community work focuses on regional food systems, the impacts of neoliberalism in Canadian food and agricultural policy, and how to center equity and ecological integrity through economic reform. Naomi is a founder of the Pacific Coastal Dry Farming Collaborative and co-chair of the Comox Valley Food Policy Council.

Organizing Session Facilitators (April 16th)

Ayla Fenton

Since 2013, Ayla has worked on diverse agroecological farms throughout Anishnaabe and Haudenosaunee territories (eastern Ontario), learning how to live in right relations with the land through regenerative and community-oriented food production. For over a decade, she has been organizing new and young farmers and farmworkers nationally through the National Farmers Union and internationally through La Via Campesina, building collective power and advocating for the transition to agroecology, food sovereignty and climate justice. Over the past several years, she has developed an urban community farm and new farmer training program in her hometown of Kingston, ON. She currently works as the Policy Manager for Young Agrarians, organizing and advocating to improve access to land and capital for new and young farmers across Canada. She is excited to bring her social movements experience and a collaborative focus to this work.You can read more about Young Agrarians policy work at youngagrarians.org/policy.

Stuart Oke

Stuart Oke is the co-owner and operator of Rooted Oak Farm, a certified organic CSA and market garden serving customers from Ottawa to Kingston. Alongside his work on the farm, he is the Government Relations Coordinator at the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario. Stuart is deeply involved in agricultural policy and advocacy. He serves as a Director and Land Transition Research Coordinator for the National Farmers Union (Ontario) and sits on the Policy Working Group for Farmers for Climate Solutions. He is a current National Board member and previous Youth president of the National Farmers Union. He is a past Vice President of Canadian Organic Growers as well as Communications and Membership Manager at the Organic Council of Ontario. In addition to his farming and policy work, Stuart co-produces and hosts the Sow and Grow Podcast, which explores the forces shaping Canadian agriculture.

Sophie McCafferty

Passionate about food, community and ecology, Sophie (she/her) can usually be found with her hands in the ground. Currently completing a Master’s in Environmental Science at l’Université de Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Sophie’s research explores how market access impacts beginning farmer resilience. Her work takes a holistic, transdisciplinary approach to environmental research, stewardship, and justice. She also is grateful for her time supporting the NDP agriculture critic, MP Richard Cannings, gaining insight into how federal politics can support grassroots initiatives.  Committed to amplifying farmers’ voices, Sophie is currently working as the Farm Engagement Coordinator at Young Agrarians. Most of all, Sophie loves spending time on the Hudson Heartbeet Community farm where she gets to ground her knowledge and spend time with the people she loves.