When a panel of agriculture industry leaders gathered Nov. 30 to debate sustainability in the industry, viewpoints naturally reflected their sector.
Soil Conservation of Canada president Don McCabe wanted more government leadership on conservation efforts.
“We need leadership,” he said. “Neither Liberals nor Conservatives are leaders on conservation.”
Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Ron Bonnett talked about the need for farm profitability. Grain Growers of Canada executive director Richard Phillips talked about profitability through market access.
Canola Council of Canada representative Robert Hunter extolled the virtues of a growing biodiesel industry as a boon for the sustainability of his industry.
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And Canadian Fertilizer Institute board chair Hugh Loomans talked about his industry’s efforts to convince Canadians, including students, that while organic production can be part of the agricultural mix, a sustainable sector requires use of inputs like fertilizer.
“It has to be a balanced approach,” he said. “Organic alone won’t feed the world.”
But a common theme from questioners and panel members was that if it is to be sustainable, the food industry needs more public support and that requires better communication about modern agriculture and a better public image.
“There is a growing awareness of agriculture in the population,” Bonnett said. “But I said awareness of agriculture, not understanding.”
He said agriculture is operated more sustainably now than ever before but often that is not the public perception.
“We’re doing a good job for the environment, not so good a job on communications,” said the CFA president. “The key is who gets to define sustainability.”
He suggested environmentalist activists are framing the public debate in a way that damages agriculture’s image and ability to defend itself.
“Sustainability is not a new buzzword. It’s what we have been doing,” said Phillips.
The panel was part of the Grow-Canada conference organized by CropLife Canada.
In several sessions, there were complaints that environmental activist groups are hijacking the debate about agriculture by creating an image of an industry that creates unsafe food and damages the environment.
American Jay Lehr, an economist and “futurist” who promotes the benefits of modern agriculture, complained that “anti-farmer environmental activists” have captured and defined the debate.
“I believe agriculture’s biggest problem is that we are misunderstood,” he said. “Farmers don’t talk enough to non-farmers, your neighbours and friends, about the importance of agriculture.”
He suggested farmers and industry officials should approach local schools to tell agriculture’s side of the story. He said teachers too often use material supplied by environmentalists.
