The Role of Agricultural Societies in the Changing Trajectory of the Agri-Food System
Creators: Pombert, Terra D
Publisher: name: University of Alberta Library
Year: 2024

<p>Agricultural societies in Canada were established by European colonizers, beginning in Nova Scotia in the late 1700s, and were known at this time as Colonial Societias (Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture [NASFA], n.d; Scott, n.d.). Overtime, these organizations spread across the newly established provinces as a government sponsored agricultural development strategy. Current day agricultural societies have a long history of supporting the quality of life and the success of agriculture in communities, led by the labour and passion of volunteers. These community-based organizations are part of what is known as the social economy; they are nonprofit, volunteer run organizations that respond to community needs and are distinct from the private and public sector, but often work collaboratively with them (Chaves &amp; Monzón, 2012). They are managed provincially and their role has evolved alongside the changes brought about by the industrialization of agriculture. Investments in commodity agriculture aimed at export markets and increased reliance on manufactured inputs has resulted in the scaling and specialization of farms, which has reduced the economic viability of the traditional small-scale mixed family farm. This change is pronounced in the Prairie Region of Canada, resulting in fewer farms and farmers, and declining rural populations, which is impacting the role and future existence of agricultural societies. Alberta, a prairie province in Canada, is of particular interest in my research because there are 291 active agricultural societies, more than any other province in Canada. <br>
The negative impacts of the dominant industrial agri-food system on the environment and rural communities, the cultural disconnect of a rapidly urbanizing society from agriculture, and reliance on a globalized food system have contributed to a resurgence of interest in local food systems. In Canada, this trend to local has gained momentum in the last two decades, resulting in growth in local food production, distribution and marketing, driven by consumer demand and awareness of the multiple benefits of supporting local food actors. Moreover, agricultural policies have been enacted or are in development in most metropolitan regions aimed at supporting local agri-food systems and the protection of prime agricultural land. Despite this increased support and interest, local food initiatives are challenged to be economically viable within the globalized food system, and often rely on collaboration of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.<br>
My research brings attention to the role that agricultural societies are and could take to support local food systems, a topic which has been overlooked in research on local food systems in Canada. This qualitative study was conducted in two phases and used grounded theory for data analysis. The first phase, encompassing an environmental scan of societies and interviews with societies of interest, examined the historical and current role of agricultural societies across Canada, to understand how they are or could support local food systems. The second phase of this study focuses on the Province of Alberta and uses a community-based participatory approach and focus groups and semi-structured interviews to identify potential ways an agricultural society in Beaumont, Alberta, could respond to changing community needs and policies towards the development of urban agriculture and local food systems more broadly.<br><br>
In this study, I found that agricultural societies’ history, current role and quantity varies by province as a result of the changing trajectory of agriculture within communities and the establishment of other agricultural support services. Today, most existing agricultural societies provide recreational infrastructure and host agricultural fairs, exhibitions and other activities based on community needs. I found that growing interest in the development of sustainable local food systems has begun to reinvigorate many societies across Canada, and had led to the formation of new agricultural societies in British Columbia. In Beaumont, Alberta, the Beaumont &amp; District Agricultural Society (BADAS) was found to be an important community resource which has significant potential to support changing regional and municipal agricultural policies, and the community vision for a sustainable local food system, by acting as a hub facilitating education, advocacy, networking, welcoming immigrants and supporting local economic development. </p>