Organic Farming and the Social Economy
Jennifer Sumner and Sophie Llewelyn
Community-University Research Alliance for
Southern Ontario’s Social Economy
University of Guelph
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Second Southern Ontario
Social Economy Node Symposium
April 26, 2007
Organic Farming
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Organic farming is a method of crop and
livestock production that
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Protects the environment
Maintains soil fertility and biological diversity
Recycles materials and resources
Promotes the health of livestock
Prepares organic products
Relies on renewable resources
OMAFRA 2006
Organic Farming
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Organic farming comprises a range of
approaches within the broader sustainable
agriculture spectrum. In its most developed
form, ecologically sustainable agriculture
(including organic farming) is both a
philosophy and a system of farming. It is
based on a set of values that reflect an
awareness of both ecological and social
realities, and on a level of empowerment that
is sufficient to generate responsible action.
Hill and MacRae1992
Organic Farming Movement
More than just organic farmers
 Consumers
 Academics
 Restaurateurs and chefs
 Small entrepreneurs
 Social-economy organizations
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– NGOs, co-ops
Project Description
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University Partners- Jennifer Sumner and Ann Clark
Community Partners - OntarBio and Foodshare
Builds on previous research on the links between
organic farmers and sustainable rural communities
Study the extent of the social economy among
organic farmers in southern Ontario
Study the spread of the social economy among and
beyond organic farmers in southern Ontario
Mobilize knowledge to support organic socialeconomy organizations and rural community
development.
Preliminary findings
The social economy and organic
farmers
 Types of social economy organizations
 Summary of this research to date
 Further study
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The Social Economy
and Organic Farmers
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Organic farmers are active participants in
Southern Ontario’s social economy
 Withdrawal from conventional agriculture has
prompted growth of organic social economy
 Alternative, farmer-founded social-purpose
organizations allow organic farmers to meet
their diverse needs:
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Education and training
Knowledge sharing
Social support
Sourcing organic inputs
- Marketing products
- Influencing policy and
consumer behaviour
Social Economy Organizations
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NGOs:
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Farmer education and training: EFAO, COG
Policy making and promotion: NFU, CFFO
Internships and volunteer farm workers: CRAFT, WWOOF
Urban food security: FoodShare, food banks
Producer co-ops
Small, farmer-founded, social-purpose businesses
Credit unions
Churches
Social Service Organizations
Environmental NGOs
Research Summary
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The social economy is a crucial part of organic
farming in southern Ontario.
Social economy organizations support connections
and collaboration between rural organic producers
and urban consumers.
The social economy is expanding through an organic,
‘rhizomatic’ process: social economy nodes generate
new co-ops and organizations.
Social economy organizations are actively changing
the landscape of organics in the region.
Further Study
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How can we accommodate environmental
responsibility in our understanding of the social
economy?
With the rapid growth in demand for organic
products, how will successful social-economy
organizations resist the threat of demutualization?
As first-generation organic innovators age, how will
social-economy organizations support their
members into retirement?
Thank you
Jennifer Sumner
Sophie Llewelyn
School of Environmental Design
and Rural Development,
University of Guelph
[email protected]
MSc, Capacity Development
and Extension
University of Guelph
[email protected]