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Challenging the Agri-Food Paradigm: Voices of the Farmer

Join us for episode 4 in our agri-food live stream series to learn how shifting to sustainable practices can reduce emissions and build resilience, while addressing the challenges farmers face in this crucial transition.

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In This Session

Agriculture plays a vital role in the Canadian economy, contributing over CAD 143.8 billion annually to the country’s gross domestic product. Forces such as a growing population, increased consumer interest in plant-based products, and increased exportation has required more industrialized agricultural techniques to meet demand. This industrialization of farming may have enabled higher production, but research has shown it comes at the expense of ecosystems and soil health. As such, farmers are facing pressure to produce more sustainably, pollute less, and engage in ecosystem regeneration, all while continuing to put affordable, nutritious food on Canadian tables.

Regenerative agriculture has thus re-emerged as a solution. Once practiced by Canada’s Indigenous farmers, its overarching principle is farming in a way that seeks to enhance ecosystems, and encompasses various practices intended to maintain healthy, fertile soil. Moving away from the status quo of highly mechanized monoculture to address the many ecological issues associated with modern farming will require a substantial shift in production mindsets and practices along the agricultural supply chain, including politicians, industry partners, municipal planners, and importantly, the farmers themselves.

In this session, we will hear directly from three Canadian farmers who have transitioned to regenerative practices and integrated sustainability into their operations at various points in their farming journeys. We will hear their stories on why they decided to make the change, how they navigated the journey, the challenges and opportunities they encountered along the way, and what they see as the key enablers for all producers to follow this path. The session will also shed light on opportunities for policymakers, investors, and other actors in the value chain to support farmers through the transition to regenerative farming.

Future of Agri-food Event Series

The Future of Agri-food Event Series is convening key Canadian thought leaders to explore Canada’s role in the future of the agri-food system, and the key opportunities and challenges facing the sector. The series is jointly convened by the Ivey Centre for Building Sustainable Value (BSV Centre), Ivey Academy, and the Institute for Sustainable Finance. The primary goal is to build awareness in the key networks of the partners (executive leaders in business and finance) of key opportunities and challenges in agri-food for Canada, especially the critical issues associated with the transition towards net zero.

Guests

Laurel Steinfeld

Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Sustainability, Ivey Business School

Laurel Steinfield (MSc, DPhil, University of Oxford) is an Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship & Sustainability at Ivey Business School, Western University. Her work focuses on inequities and explores (social) innovations/enterprises that can improve livelihoods. She has over 15 years of experience working in and with social enterprises/entrepreneurs, conducting research with entrepreneurs in Eastern/Southern Africa, and exploring socially innovative agricultural solutions that foster climate resilience among vulnerable communities. As a transformative consumer research scholar, she views social innovations/enterprises as a key mechanism with which to address intersectional injustices and to achieve the UN sustainable development goals. Laurel is originally from, and currently resides in, Chatham, Ontario. Coming home to raise her family (she has two small boys) has reconnected her with her local community and inspired her to explore the innovations being done in Canada to promote an inclusive bioeconomy.

Tannis Axten

Farmer, Axten Farms, Ltd.

Tannis Axten’s farming journey has been one of openness to new ideas which has transformed the family farm’s mindset and management. With a focus on soil health and soil biological life they use disc drill seeding, highly diverse cropping rotation, and they keep their soil covered as much as possible. Being “loyal to the soil” has resulted in reduced synthetic inputs, improved water efficiency and boosted organic matter. Adding a food grade seed cleaning plant, flour mill and packaging line on their farm allows Axten Farms to offer regeneratively grown grains and whole grain flour.

Blake Vince

Farmer, Bla-Kar Farms

Blake is a 5th Generation farmer from Merlin Ontario. Presently he grows corn, soybeans, winter wheat, and various cover crops. More recently Blake has reintroduced grazing ruminants, adding some beef cattle to his farming business. The Vince family would be recognized as no-till farming pioneers in Ontario, having been using no-till farming methodology since 1983. Blake is an advocate for soil health and the role healthy soil plays in relationship to protecting freshwater resources. Blake is a 2013 Canadian Nuffield Scholar and the Immediate past chair for Nuffield Canada. He is also a charter member of the Rotary Club of Chatham Sunrise (1998-present). He is married to Karen; they are proud parents of 2 young adults Cora and Elliott.

Brett Israel

Farmer, Owner and Operator, 3Gen Organics

Brett Israel is a 6th generation farmer from Wellington County Ontario. Along with his family, Brett grows a variety of crops on 1000 acres of organic land that the Israel family farms. Most of the crops grown on the farm are fed to the 180 sow farrow finish swine herd which Brett sees as a key to regenerative farming.