Organic Farming and the Social Economy

1. Organic Farming and the Social Economy Jennifer Sumner and Sophie Llewelyn Community-University Research Alliance for Southern Ontario’s Social Economy University of Guelph ~ Second Southern Ontario Social Economy Node Symposium April 26, 2007

2. Organic Farming • Organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that • Protects the environment • Maintains soil fertility and biological diversity • Recycles materials and resources • Promotes the health of livestock • Prepares organic products • Relies on renewable resources OMAFRA 2006

3. Organic Farming • Organic farming comprises a range of approaches within the broader sustainable agriculture spectrum. In its most developed form, ecologically sustainable agriculture (including organic farming) is both a philosophy and a system of farming. It is based on a set of values that reflect an awareness of both ecological and social realities, and on a level of empowerment that is sufficient to generate responsible action. Hill and MacRae1992

4. Organic Farming Movement • More than just organic farmers • Consumers • Academics • Restaurateurs and chefs • Small entrepreneurs • Social-economy organizations • NGOs, co-ops

5. Project Description • University Partners- Jennifer Sumner and Ann Clark • Community Partners - OntarBio and Foodshare • Builds on previous research on the links between organic farmers and sustainable rural communities • Study the extent of the social economy among organic farmers in southern Ontario • Study the spread of the social economy among and beyond organic farmers in southern Ontario • Mobilize knowledge to support organic social-economy organizations and rural community development.

6. Preliminary findings • The social economy and organic farmers • Types of social economy organizations • Summary of this research to date • Further study

7. Organic farmers are active participants in Southern Ontario’s social economy Withdrawal from conventional agriculture has prompted growth of organic social economy Alternative, farmer-founded social-purpose organizations allow organic farmers to meet their diverse needs: - Education and training - Marketing products Knowledge sharing - Influencing policy and Social support consumer behaviour Sourcing organic inputs The Social Economy and Organic Farmers

8. Social Economy Organizations • NGOs: • Farmer education and training: EFAO, COG • Policy making and promotion: NFU, CFFO • Internships and volunteer farm workers: CRAFT, WWOOF • Urban food security: FoodShare, food banks • Producer co-ops • Small, farmer-founded, social-purpose businesses • Credit unions • Churches • Social Service Organizations • Environmental NGOs

9. Research Summary • The social economy is a crucial part of organic farming in southern Ontario. • Social economy organizations support connections and collaboration between rural organic producers and urban consumers. • The social economy is expanding through an organic, ‘rhizomatic’ process: social economy nodes generate new co-ops and organizations. • Social economy organizations are actively changing the landscape of organics in the region.

10. Further Study • How can we accommodate environmental responsibility in our understanding of the social economy? • With the rapid growth in demand for organic products, how will successful social-economy organizations resist the threat of demutualization? • As first-generation organic innovators age, how will social-economy organizations support their members into retirement?

11. Sophie Llewelyn MSc, Capacity Development and Extension University of Guelph sllewely@uoguelph.ca Jennifer Sumner School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph jsumner@uoguelph.ca Thank you