Policy Areas

Op Ed – Farmers Beware the Variety Use Agreement

The VUA is a pilot project of Seeds Canada, where some companies make specific new varieties available only under a contract requiring the farmer to pay the company a fee every time they use the variety for farm-saved seed. Farmers should be aware of the history of the VUA and what it means for their right to use farm saved seed. Read more

Passez à l’action : Arrêtez l’ACIA d’abandonner la réglementation sur les semences GM !

L’Agence canadienne d’inspection des aliments (ACIA) veut exempter des règlements les plantes et les semences transgéniques (génétiquement modifiées ou GM). Au lieu de ça, elle laissserait les compagnies privées décider si leurs propres produits sont sécuritaires pour l’environnement – et de les mettre en marché sans pour autant révéler qu’ils soient génétiquement modifiés. Dites à Read more

Take Action: Stop the CFIA from abandoning GM seed regulation!

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) wants to make gene-edited genetically engineered (genetically modified or GM) plants and seed exempt from regulation. Instead, it would let private companies decide if their own products are safe for the environment — and put them on the market without revealing they are gene-edited. Tell the Minister you want Read more

Request for investigation of fertilizer pricing in Canada

On January 12, the NFU sent the following letter asking the Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food to launch an investigation into fertilizer prices. Dear Mr. Blois, RE: Request for investigation of fertilizer pricing in Canada The National Farmers Union (NFU) is concerned about possible profiteering by fertilizer companies. Read more

Letter to BC’s Agriculture Minister—Urgent Need for Agri-Recovery

Dear Minister Popham, RE: Urgent need for Agri-Recovery British Columbia’s ranchers are in desperate need of Agri-Recovery funds. On December 15 you urged producers to save receipts while the BC and federal governments worked out the details of emergency support. Weeks later, farmers and ranchers are still waiting, and the need for help is beyond Read more

Statement on United Nations International Migrants Day

The National Farmers Union (NFU) stands in solidarity with all migrant workers on International Migrants Day. The NFU calls on the Canadian government to extend permanent residency status to all those who grow our food. In April 2021, former Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Minister, Marco Mendocino, announced a Temporary Policy to enable up Read more

Grocery Prices are Rising and Farmers’ Share Declining as Corporate Processors and Retailers Take More and More

Swift Current, SK—Retail food prices are rising. To explain these increases, many commentators point to rising prices for farm products and cite drought, other production problems, the pandemic, or supply-chain issues. This is not an accurate explanation. Public data shows that corporate food processors and retailers have relentlessly, for decades, pushed up retail prices even Read more

Who will feed us?

New farmer perspectives on agriculture for the future

Who will feed us? New farmer perspectives on agriculture for the future has evolved over several years with the help of many young farmers. In many ways it began in response to multiple intersecting crises: declining numbers of farmers and farms across the country, an aging farmer population without new and young farmers to replace Read more

Taking Stock of Abattoir Regulations

How provincial rules help or hinder regional meat production

The NFU's Taking Stock of Abattoir Regulations report reviews provincial regulations on slaughter, meat processing (cut/wrap), and marketing across Canada. It highlights common points and differences among the regulations, and identifies where specific aspects of these regulations (or how they are applied) create barriers to local and regional meat production, as well as those pieces that support thriving local and regional food systems and local producers. Read more

NFU urges Government of Canada to put COP 26 pledges in motion

As COP26 concludes, the NFU calls the Government of Canada to action. We implore policymakers to live up to their non-binding pledges and ensure they address the climate crisis by reducing actual emissions and not with net-zero schemes based on unproven technology, market-based solutions, misunderstood carbon sequestration science, and the further commodification of land. Read more