November 25, 2024
Premier Holt and Honourable Minister Finnigan,
The National Farmers Union in New Brunswick congratulates you on becoming New Brunswick’s first
female Premier.
For over 50 years the National Farmers Union has been and continues to be committed to family and
collective farms, promoting agroecology and food sovereignty. The NFU vision for farmers, consumers
and the earth is embedded in social and economic justice both in Canada and internationally. On local,
national and international levels, the NFU advocates alternative structures and government policies that
resist corporate control of food.
The NFU-NB is one of two accredited agricultural organizations in the province and represent all
commodities from all areas of the province. We promote policies that aim to revitalize agriculture in
New Brunswick by strengthening small and medium scale farms. Our goal is to work together to build a
sustainable food system, and achieve agricultural policies which will ensure dignity and security of
income for farm families while enhancing the land for future generations.
You may be familiar with our work for New Brunswick’s farmers’ markets; we produce a bi-annual map
of all NB farmers’ markets that is distributed through all markets, tourism information centres and
public libraries in the province. We also represent NB farmers’ markets at the Canadian Farmers’ Market
coalition and will be hosting New Brunswick’s first farmers’ market conference next year.
After the formation of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) Caucus in our National
organization in 2021, the NFU-NB over the last two years has organized events and networking
opportunities for people from the BIPOC communities who are interested in or actively involved in
agriculture and food systems. We continue to strive to increase diversity, inclusion, and equality in
farming.
We propose the following policies and practices which your government and Department of Agriculture
could adopt to assist those who feed us.
Food Insecurity – New Brunswick ranks as one of the three provinces with the highest levels of
food insecurity in Canada. New Brunswick farmers are part of the solution to food insecurity;
we propose the creation of a social prescribing or nutrition coupon program that
simultaneously supports New Brunswick producers and New Brunswickers who are hungry.
Farmland Protection – New Brunswick lost 18% of farmland from 2016 to 2021 and continues to
lose farmland at an equal or increased rate. We suggest that policies to limit suburban sprawl
and development of prime agricultural land, and identifying and developing marginal land are
necessary to longevity of the sector.
Farm Income & Debt – Despite record farm cash receipts and that NB agriculture, agri-food and
beverage production accounts for 3.5% of the provinces GDP (surpassed only by forestry); New
Brunswick farmers keep less than 10% of every dollar they earn after they pay their bills. We
support the creation of basic guaranteed income that will help ensure fair food prices and
income for both farmers and consumers.
Agroecology – We advocate for agroecology, which is a holistic approach to food production
that uses—and creates—social, cultural, economic and environmental knowledge to promote
food sovereignty, social justice, economic sustainability, and healthy agricultural ecosystems. In
part agroecology relies on adopting regenerative agriculture practices, which farms need
ongoing government support to transition to.
Local Procurement – The Local Food and Beverage Strategy aims to increase opportunities for
local food and beverages companies in the procurement of local food into provincial public
institutions by working with other departments and promoting policies such as GNB Policy AD-
1709. Neither Policy AD-1709 nor the amount of food purchased for public institutions is
publicly available. GNB must be transparent about its procurement policies and respective
successes or failures; increasing local procurement of food and beverage is essential to the
sector and cannot be done without understanding how much is currently done.
Rural Communities – The loss of family farms severely changes and impoverishes rural
communities, the landscape, the biodiversity, and the environment. Rural communities must
work with farmers on municipal policies, and reduce the barriers for new farmers to start
operations in rural areas.
Rural Infrastructure – Infrastructure support is essential to the farming sector, needing to
transport goods on NB roads and power their operations. These services are inadequately
provided, particularly rural communications such as cell phone and internet services and GNB
must work to increase these vital services to all New Brunswickers.
Savour NB – a non-profit, industry-led organization committed to promoting and supporting
local food and beverage producers, processors, and culinary artisans in New Brunswick. Savour
NB needs meaningful interdepartmental support and promotion, with policies that ensure the
long-term success of the organization.
Indigenous Stewardship – The National Farmers Union has a long-standing commitment to act
in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. We recommend that agriculture policies should go
beyond consultation with First Nations, and government should take all opportunities to have
Indigenous led policy and oversight of the land.
We thank you for your time and look forward to working with you and the Minister of Agriculture,
Aquaculture, and Fisheries. We are always available to meet or discuss if you or members of your party
have any further questions.
Data Brainanta,
President – National Farmers Union in New Brunswick
