Powerful forces act against the development of sustainable agriculture. More and more people are hungry and malnourished, even in industrialized countries. We are using up our resources and damaging our forests, lakes, and rivers. Moreover, many politicians and business people think environmental protection conflicts with economic growth and profit. Sustainable agriculture must be based on a mutual understanding between farmers and non-farmers.
Farmers have an obligation to provide safe basic foods and to steward the soil, water, and air.
Non-farmers, in return, must support farmers through fair prices and programs which protect farmers from loss of income and unreasonable eviction from their farms. The governments of Canada have surrendered much control over agriculture to transnational corporations. Current government policy, in effect if not intent, is often no more than the promotion of these corporations' agendas. Unfortunately, the agendas of corporate chemical, fertilizer, processing, distribution, and retailing corporations conflict with the best interests of farmers, farm families, rural communities, as well as with those of consumers. Farmers, farm families, local communities and regions must regain control of food production.