Karen Foster, Dalhousie University (Sociology)

Never break the chain: why succession matters in food systems: Family farm and business succession matters to the sustainability of rural communities and food systems, but not in the way you might think. In most public discourse the "succession problem" remains narrowly framed around individual businesses’ succession plans, and succession is understood as a discrete transaction—the hand-off between old and new. Drawing a subsample of interviews with small farm and food business owners in rural Nova Scotia from a larger study of rural businesses across sectors, I show that owners' anxieties about succession are often tied to a deeper concern about the future of rural communities and the sustainability of food systems. Interviewees understood that if their farm, fishing operation or business did not get directly handed on to another owner-operator who lived in the community, it was likely to either be gobbled up or replaced by a larger business with little or no concern for the wellbeing of the people around nor the long-term survival of the economic and social systems that sustain them. The best, albeit difficult, thing these business owners can do is to try and ensure an ‘unbroken chain’ of succession where their business’s values and community embeddedness are handed on along with the books, but most of our economic and social policies do nothing to help them do that. I will draw out insights specifically related to food systems and policy for this presentation to tie into the conference's themes.

Talan Iscan, Dalhousie University and Alexa Mucyo Kayonga, Dalhousie University

Farmland Access, Affordability, and Sustainability: Canadian Perspectives on Alternative Farmland Tenure Models: In recent decades, farmland affordability across Canada has steadily declined. The long-term viability of small and medium-scale farming in Canada is at risk due to several factors including growing farm debt, farmland consolidation, and an aging farmer population. As a result, farmland is becoming increasingly inaccessible to new and aspiring farmers, including those from diverse backgrounds. This also creates challenges for farm succession planning and equitable access to food, both of which are required to guarantee food security and sovereignty in Canada. In the absence of effective government policies to address the issue of farmland affordability, communities and community-led organizations continue to place sustainability, equity, and access at the forefront. Research on the role of alternative farmland tenure arrangements, such as farmland trusts, in supporting farmland affordability has not been sufficiently examined. To ensure a just transition in Canada’s food system, this study is seeking to understand farmers’ experiences and perspectives. Using stakeholder interviews, we highlight the values and perspectives of young, aging, and aspiring farmers as well as farmland trustees. We examine the effect of alternative farmland ownership arrangements on socio-economic and environmental outcomes, such as farmland affordability and sustainability, in Canada's agriculture sector. We find that the next generation of farmers will need alternative forms of access to affordable farmland, credit, and extension services to grow and maintain viable farms. We also find that aging farmers face financial pressures which can compete with their goals concerning the longevity of their farm and sustainable practices. Also, as we find that farmland trusts are underutilized, we recommend tools to support farmland protection and succession planning.

Chanuka Swarnathilake, Department of Economics, Dalhousie University

Farmland Access, Affordability, and Sustainability:  A Review of  International Evidence on Alternative Farmland Tenure Models: Farmland prices are increasing in many countries, making it difficult for young and small-scale farmers to access farmland. At the same time, many farmers are aging, farming successors are not being identified, and farmland is being lost to urban development. These challenges renew interest in alternative farmland tenure models, including farmland trusts, conservation easements, and farmland cooperatives. Using a scoping review and a hybrid thematic content analysis, this presentation will offer highlights of international research and policy examples to understand how these models help improve farmland affordability, farmer access to land, environmental sustainability, and farm succession planning. Drawing on international evidence, we provide comparative evidence on how different models of farmland ownership, use rights, and land protection systems advance these goals and explore whether these approaches could be adapted to the Canadian context.

Preliminary findings suggest that farmland trusts can help beginning farmers access farmland through long-term leases and affordability agreements. In addition, conservation easements have helped protect farmland from urban development and support environmental conservation. Studies also show that many landowners are more willing to adopt conservation easements when they want to transfer farmland to future generations. However, farmers also indicate that highly restrictive land-use rules also reduce farming flexibility. Also in cooperative-based systems, collective ownership and resource sharing have helped strengthen farmer cooperation and long-term sustainability. Overall, the findings suggest that alternative farmland tenure and governance models can support farmland protection, environmental sustainability, and farm succession. However, their success depends on effective policy design, supportive legal systems, and adequate financial support mechanisms.

Madeleine Fournier