Ecological Agriculture
Faced with the major challenges affecting agriculture in Québec and around the world, Équiterre has strengthened its commitment to developing local and ecological agriculture as well as short distribution channels. Équiterre is also a champion of food sovereignty, which ensures a population’s food security, the vitality of rural environments and citizens’ health. In 2008, Équiterre continued to develop projects to rally citizens and politicians alike around the issue of sustainable agriculture and horticulture that, first and foremost, meet human needs.
Food Sovereignty
On November 24, 2008, Équiterre joined with dozens of other organizations in Québec and the rest of Canada to found the Coalition pour la souveraineté alimentaire (Coalition for Food Sovereignty). Combining forces like this will provide a concerted effort to develop agricultural and commercial regulations on a national and international scale to promote “agricultural exceptionalism” and the right of all peoples to food sovereignty.
The Coalition will defend the right of peoples to define their own food and agricultural policies, to protect and regulate agricultural production and national exchanges so as to achieve sustainable development objectives, to determine the degree of food autonomy they want and to eliminate “dumping” in their marketplace. Food sovereignty does not conflict with commerce as long as the latter comes after the right of people to local, healthy and ecological farming and food production, carried out in ethical conditions that respect the right of all partners to decent working conditions and pay.
Soup's On!
From the farm straight to schools and health institutions
Soup's On!, an Équiterre initiative for responsible food supply to institutions, is an innovative project that brings education and health institutions together with local farmers growing vegetables in an environmentally friendly way. The goal is to supply vulnerable people—children, teens and the sick—with the healthiest and most nutritious food possible, while at the same time supporting Québec farms. In addition to the supply chain, the Soup's On! project also includes an educational element that consists of workshops, a Soup's On! learning kit, farm visits and more. And with the help of an advisory committee made up of representatives from several organizations and ministries, it is developing community solutions to promote responsible institutional food supplies in Québec.
The Sainte-Bibiane elementary school day-care service in a field trip at the Jardins du petit tremble farm.
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Launching the Soup's On! School Kit
Available since October 2008—after a year of development and verification by teachers—this handy multidisciplinary kit offers some 15 hands-on educational activities to help educators guide elementary and high school students in exploring responsible food supply. Health, the environment and the sustainability of local farms are the focus of the kit’s themes. Once educated about food production and distribution issues, students will be better equipped to make informed food choices and become agents for change.
Youngsters get a concrete lesson in the issues related to the route that food takes from the field to the plate!
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Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA)
The CSA network is a win-win situation connecting citizen-partners with farms. Families pre-purchase a share of their farmer’s harvest. They are then guaranteed a supply of fresh, high-quality vegetables or meats produced in an environmentally friendly way. As for farmers, they can count on a guaranteed income at the start of the season.
The network welcomed 25 new farms in 2008, allowing more than 33,000 citizen-partners to receive vegetable baskets.
Fallout from the Pronovost Commission report
2008 marked a year of change for Québec agriculture. The much-awaited report of the Commission sur l’avenir de l’agriculture et de l’agroalimentaire québécois (parliamentary committee on the future of Québec’s agriculture and agri-food industry) was released February 12. It made recommendations that closely match the proposals suggested by Équiterre during the committee hearings. The Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec has established an advisory committee to develop strategies for diversification and short distribution channels. With 12 years of experience in CSA to its credit, Équiterre was invited to play a major role in the committee’s work.
Équiterre was also invited to sit on the board of directors of Filière biologique du Québec, an association of representatives of the organic farming products industry. The association promotes organic designation in Québec, among other things.
A great season in spite of the rain
Summer 2008 was exceptionally wet, but the great majority of farms in the network were able to continue to produce wonderful vegetables. Hats off to our farmers and their know-how!
Antoine Gendreau-Turmel (a network farmer), illustrated here by Fil, chose to laugh about the extra work caused by the tricky weather.
www.filetjulie.com
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CSA, an inspirational endeavour
Équiterre presented its CSA formula in Modena, Italy, where some 1,100 delegates met for the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements’ 16th Organic World Congress, from June 16 to 21. Équiterre also participated in the Great Lakes CSA Conference, held November 21 to 23 in Orillia, Ontario.
Even more agronomic support for organic farmers
In 2008, the Agriconseils network recognized Équiterre as a consultancy. Starting in the 2009 season, Équiterre will therefore work on-site with agronomists to help truck- farmers tackle the challenge of managing the production some 30 varieties of vegetables. This support will be appreciated, because Équiterre is welcoming many new farms into the CSA network.
Ecological Horticulture
Analysis of the Pesticides Management Code
In effect since 2003 and widely applied since 2006, the Pesticides Management Code has led to essential advances in the fight against chemical pesticides in Québec by prohibiting the sale and use of several products considered harmful for our health and the environment. In 2008, Équiterre and the David Suzuki Foundation evaluated how the code has been applied. This examination led us to conclude that improvements could be made in applying the code to ensure that it reaches all its objectives. The Bilan du Code de gestion des pesticides (Pesticide Free? Oui!) published in March, includes the recommendation that all synthetic pesticides used for esthetic purposes be banned in Québec, and it encourages the rest of Canada to work on developing and adopting a similar regulation, based on a precautionary stance.
Pesticide Free? Oui!: An analysis of Québec's pesticides management code and recommendations for an effective provincial regulation.
Knowing consumers helps guide their decision-making
In 2008, Équiterre published the results of a Canada-wide study on factors that encourage consumers to choose ornamental horticulture products and services that are healthier for the environment. The study was based on a review of the available literature, a national survey with consumers and interviews with retailers. Above all, the study revealed that ecological horticulture is a sustainable trend that is rapidly growing, and that retailers and citizens alike are responsible for promoting the consumption of products and services that are more environmentally friendly. In order to do this, information on ecological practices must be more widely circulated.
Large retailers took the initiative in 2008 to gradually stop selling synthetic pesticides used for esthetic purposes.
A pesticide-free week
The Week Without Pesticides, already widespread in Europe, was held for the first time in Québec in March 2008. The local Équiterre-sponsored project informed citizens of the risks associated with chemical pesticides and the availability of alternatives that are healthier and environmentally friendly. Promotional activities and talks were held in Québec City and Montréal.
Launch of Pelouses écologiques et autres couvre-sols, a book by Édith Smeesters