Corporatization of Food and Policy for the People

Sow and Grow Podcast

Description: In this episode we’re talking about the corporatization and financialization of agriculture with Cathy Holtslander, National Farmers Union Director of Research and Policy. This episode gives us a historical account of market power in Canadian agriculture and shows how policy from the top down has enabled corporate consolidation. Cathy details what the impact has been on farmers, and what we can do about it. We are reminded that our ultimate goal of food sovereignty is in direct conflict with corporate agriculture.

In addition to working as the Director of Research and Policy for the NFU, Cathy Operates an organic grain farm with her partner in Saskatchewan and has been advocating for sustainable and just farm policy since the early 1990s.

Links from the Episode:

• http://nationalfarmersfoundation.ca/
• National Farmers Union
• Food Sovereignty | National Farmers Union
• Policy matters | National Farmers Union
• Catherine Holts (@catholts) / Twitter
• NationalFarmersUnion (@NFUcanada) / Twitter
• www.rootedoak.ca @rootedoakfarm
• As always, a huge thank you to the National Farmers Foundation (NFF) http://nationalfarmersfoundation.ca/

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions expressed by the guest and producers of this podcast do not necessarily represent the thoughts, opinions or policy of our sponsors, including that of the National Farmers Union.

Bios

Host: Ayla Fenton

Bio: Ayla is a first-generation farmer and community organizer. She graduated from Queen's University in 2011 with a B. Sc (Honours) in Biology, and since 2013 has been working on local organic farms, learning regenerative production methods for vegetables, livestock, cereal grains and dairy. Since. Ayla has been a board member of the National Farmers Union, and is a former Youth President. She has been involved with organizing young farmers and farmworkers nationally and internationally, advocating for the transition to agroecology, food sovereignty and climate justice. Ayla also represents the NFU in the global peasant movement La Via Campesina.

Stuart Oke : Stuart is a young farmer from Eastern Ontario who, alongside his partner Nikki, owns and operates Rooted Oak Farm, a 12 acre organic vegetable and cut flower farm. After years of renting land Rooted Oak has recently relocated to Eastern Ontario, and the traditional territory of the Anishinabek, Huron-Wendat, Haudensaunee and Oneida Peoples. Stuart is the former Youth President for the National Farmers Union and current Vice President for Canadian Organic Growers. He also serves on the Policy and Government Relations Working Group for the National Farmer Coalition Farmers for Climate Solutions.

ETC GROUP Links

Who will feed us third edition (2017): https://www.etcgroup.org/whowillfeedus

Who will feed us animations (2018): https://www.etcgroup.org/content/new-video-who-will-feed-us-peasant-food-web-vs-industrial-food-chain