Episode 2

Corporatization of Agriculture and Policy for the People

Release Date: May 29, 2022

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.

To learn more about Cathy’s work, check out the following links.

As always, a huge thank you to the National Farmers Foundation (NFF)

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Other Episodes in this series

Episode 1: Who Will Feed Us

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Episode 3: Land Access (Part One)

Learn about land access issues, specifically the financialization of growing/farm land with our guest Katherine Aske.  We’re going to clarify the difference between valuing land...

Episode 4: Land Access (Part Two)

Explore the issues of accessing land that are facing young farmers today. We’re thrilled to hear from Hannah Hunter and Natalie Childs of Agricola Cooperative...

Episode 5: Migrant Farm Labour and Building the Solidarity we Need

Go on a deep exploration of the multi-faceted migrant farm labour crisis. Kit Andres, from the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, offers insight into the...

Episode 6: The True Cost of Food

Examine how the unequal price of food starts with production. Our guest, Cheyenne Sundance, highlights the necessity of paying fair wages for farm work and explains...

Episode 7: The Climate Crisis and Farming

Discover the very real impacts of the climate crisis on farmers and our food production system generally. Farmers are feeling the impacts now and need...

Episode 8: The Rematriation of Seeds and Decolonizing our Food Systems

Examine this country’s agricultural system through the lens of decolonization and focusing on the importance of Indigenous foodways. Our guest, Tiffany Traverse, tells us about...

Episode 9: Agroecology and Building a System that Works

Join our talk about agroecology and how it may offer a solution to some of the many challenges that we’ve identified in our current agricultural...
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contributors

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Cathy Holtslander

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.

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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 in 2020 relocated to Eastern Ontario, and the traditional territory of the Anishinabek, Huron-Wendat, Haudensaunee and Oneida Peoples. In addition to loving food and taking pride in growing food that sustains people, the farm was founded on the idea that farming is a political act, one capable of creating great change.

www.rootedoak.ca | @rootedoakfarm