Moving Beyond Organic? Ecological Farming and Local Food Trends

Demand for organic food in Canada continues to rise, with a total market estimate in 2017 of $5.4 billion, up from $3.5 billion in 2012. Provincially, Alberta leads this demand with 74% of consumers making weekly organic purchases, predominantly imported fruits and vegetables at mainstream retail outlets. Certified organic production in Alberta, which represents approximately 1% of total production, isn’t addressing this demand due to the volume of supply and its focus on export-oriented field crops.

There is, however, a small but growing number of new and aspiring young farmers in Alberta who are setting their sights beyond organic agriculture and export markets. Using agroecology, permaculture and other ecological practices, they are looking at farming from a whole systems perspective. These are relatively small-scale, diversified farming operations that are targeting consumer demand for local food.

In recent decades Alberta has seen strong growth in the local food sector, with a total market value estimate in 2016 of $1.624 billion from farmers’ markets, farm retail and local food restaurants, quadruple that of 2004. But in addition to feeding local consumers, Alberta’s Young Agrarians are part of an international movement that is concerned about social equity, food sovereignty and environmental sustainability of the agri-food system. In this presentation, you will learn about the values and politics of this movement and the related emerging trends in production and consumption occurring in Alberta.

Dr. Mary A. Beckie is a professor in the Faculty of Extension at the University of Alberta. Mary’s research focuses on alternative and localized agri-food systems, including studies on organic agriculture, agroecology and permaculture, as well as direct marketing, institutional procurement and local food governance. While much of her work is based in western Canada, her research has also taken her to Europe, Southeast Asia and Cuba. Mary grew up on a mixed farm in south-central Saskatchewan, where her passion for farming, rural communities and local food was nurtured. She is connected to Alberta’s agricultural community through her applied, interdisciplinary research on social change in agri-food systems.