To: Paul Smith, Senior…

To: Paul Smith, Senior Policy Advisor, OMAFRA From: Kristen Howe, MES Date: December 21, 2017 Re: Policy recommendations for the New Horizons draft soil health and conservation strategy

Dear Mr. Smith,

I have submitted a more comprehensive, 4-page policy memo via 'soilhealth@ontario.ca'; however in case this is the official platform for submissions, I am submitting a summarized version below. Thanks to you and you staff for the work on this important strategy.

Summary:

OMAFRA’s New Horizons document represents considerable effort and longer-term thinking on how to improve soil health on farms in Ontario - and it comes at an important time. As highlighted in Agriculture and Agri-food Canada’s 2016 annual report of agri-environmental indicators, many of the environmental challenges related to agriculture are worsening. There is also a strong interest among the public to increase conservation and resource protection related to the agri-food system (Meredith, 2016). Finally, there is keen interest among many farmers in building healthier soil and reducing input costs. Soil health is a shared goal across the sector, a galvanizing issue for action on many fronts. OMAFRA’s current strategy development presents a key opportunity to bring stakeholders together to discuss the prospects and challenges, and set clear goals for action.

Examining efforts in other regions can offer insights to challenges at home. My graduate research compared policy efforts in France with Ontario, considering behaviour change research and change management approaches for policy-makers.

Since 2013, France’s Ministry of Agriculture, Agri-Food, and Forestry has been undertaking a national, long-term, multi-stakeholder project to engage the majority of farmers in higher environmental performance. This effort aims for a cultural shift among producers, industry, and decision-makers. The ultimate mission is to boost ‘triple performance’ in the agricultural sector: increased ecological health on-farm, to support improved economic and social outcomes. Many aspects of the French strategy line up with recommendations from the literature on motivating farmer behaviour, managing change, and fostering support across various players. New Horizons also shares some of the same approaches.

Below are my recommendations based on my research, building on the action areas in New Horizons. This is followed by some background information, methods, and sources. My full report is available on request. Recommendations:

1.Grow the culture! New Horizons identifies that a fundamental shift in soil care is needed. If the knowledge, norms, and values are in place, producers will find the resources to apply the practices needed.

a.The literature and my interviews emphasized that peer to peer networks (and the groups that support them) are key, as well as the engagement of producers in knowledge production; this underlines support for New Horizon’s Tech Transfer ‘Action Areas’. Theme 1, Soil Management, also mentions creating a fund for farmers to try new methods. France also supports innovative groups of farmers who are perfecting or developing new practices; these ‘Environmental and Economic Interest Groups’ can include researchers, crop advisors, and other professionals. They receive preferential access to funds, recognition, and assistance in disseminating results.

b.The leadership role that OMAFRA is taking is important! It can help shift business as usual in the sector towards soil health goals. France has included training for staff across the Ministry of Agriculture, Agri-Food and Forestry on their strategy – could this be helpful in Ontario?

2.OMAFRA as chair of a broader multi-stakeholder steering committee. As New Horizons highlights, this work can not fall to the government alone – leadership from many corners is in needed. France has also engaged multiple stakeholders, with agricultural Ministry representatives chairing a steering committee of approximately 20 members. This group represents the ‘arena’ where ideas and priorities are debated, long-term vision is set, and short-term goals are charted and adjusted as needed. The soil health and conservation working group that OMAFRA has already assembled is poised to play this role. It could be enhanced by the addition of government representatives from other departments (especially the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change) to improve capacity, and at least one Civil Society Organization with a conservation focus to help build public trust.

3.Focus on the development of a new generations of “triple performance”-savvy farmers. It is easier for a farmer to begin their career using the most beneficial soil health practices, than to change set behaviours. As already identified, reviewing and updating curricula and research projects in colleges and universities is needed. Providing specific supports to help younger and new farmers enter the business (help with access to land, access to funds) is also important: research with Ontario farmers has shown that younger ones are more likely to apply more best management practices (Filson et al, 2009). In France, farmers under 35 are also more likely to be engaging in agroecological practices and research projects than older age groups, and their numbers are the highest across the EU. Special support regarding funds and access to land are also provided.

4.Farmers as stewards of the countryside. In the EU, this is an accepted role. A 2016 poll found that 40% of French citizens ranked “protection of the environment” as the main role of farmers – third overall in France (as well as for all EU member states) behind “provision of a diversity of quality products” and “ensuring the welfare of farmed animals”; the poll also found that 88% supported linking financial aid given to farmers to compliance with practices that benefit the environment (European Commission). OMAFRA’s strategy could help frame this role for farmers. This could rally funds and supporters from other areas (such as rural development, natural resource protection), and link more sources of financial support for farmers to soil health practices (like business risk management programs).

5.Create clear indicators for success that can be monitored, evaluated, and improved on. New Horizons has already done the work of identifying action areas for each of the four themes. The final strategy should include clear, meaningful indicators, and a plan for tracking and reporting on them every 1-2 years. The French strategy also includes a multi-stakeholder evaluation committee, which develops and tweaks indicators as needed, and publishes an annual report. To see movement on complex priority areas, the French strategy also includes 10 action plans; these include timelines with short and longer-term goals, and outline partnerships and resources. This could be helpful for New Horizons.

6.Support the transition to organic. France’s Organic action plan includes the goal to increase the amount of land in organic production to 8% of all farmland by 2021. This is to help meet the ballooning demands for Organic from the market, while benefitting water quality and climate change goals. To help achieve this, the government is using rural develop funds from the Common Agricultural Policy to provide some financial assistance as farmers transition their operations to organic (among other supports). New research in the United States also shows that on average the soils on organic farms hold more carbon, and sequester it in the most stable (long-term) form (Ghabbour et al). Background

There are obvious differences between the context in France and Ontario, such as climate, political affiliations, different governance models and aid arrangements. However, France’s project addresses urgent problems shared by both jurisdictions: the need to improve the viability of farm businesses, build public trust, and tackle climate change and other environmental and public health challenges. Both also use a 12-year time-frame. The French project works to enhance the management capabilities of farmers, and create supportive political and economic conditions. They see ‘triple performance’ as exemplified by agroecological management approaches such as boosting soil health by reducing manufactured inputs, and increasing cover crops, crop diversity, and soil cover. These practices are also highlighted in New Horizons and the preceding discussion document. Both strategies focus on the need for ‘whole farm’ management as opposed to piecemeal bmp’s.

Methods and Analysis My research included document review and interviews. To compare policies in France and Ontario, I applied three perspectives: factors that impact best management practices uptake among farmers (focusing on Southern Ontario); a multi-level perspective on how to foster innovation; and transition management for policy-makers.

Sources AAFC. (2016). An Overview of the Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food System 2016. Accessed from: http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/about-us/publications/economic-publications/an-overview-of-the-canadian-ag riculture-and-agri-food-system-2016/?id=1462288050282

European Commission. (2016). Report: Europeans, Agriculture, and the CAP. Special Eurobarometer 440 – Wave EB84.2 – TNS opinion & social. Coordinated by the Directorate-General for Communication of the European Union.

Geels, F. W. (2011). The multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions: Responses to seven criticisms. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 1(1), 24–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2011.02.002

Ghabbour, E.A., Davies, G., Misiewicz, T., Alami, R.A., Askounis, E.M., Cuozzo, N.P., Filice, A.J., Haskell, J.M., Moy, A.K., Roach, A.C., Shade, J. (2017). Chapter One - National Comparison of the Total and Sequestered Organic Matter Contents of Conventional and Organic Farm Soils, Editor(s): Donald L. Sparks, In Advances in Agronomy. Academic Press, 146, 1-35.

Meredith, G. (2016). Approach to Food Policy. [power point]. Food Secure Canada 9th Assembly. Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. Accessed from: https://foodsecurecanada.org/sites/foodsecurecanada.org/files/ greg_meredith_presentation_on_food_policy_fsc.pdf

Ministere de L’Agriculture, de L’agroalimentation et de la Foret. (2017). 2016 Rapport Annuel sur Agro-ecologie. Accessed from: http://agriculture.gouv.fr/rapport-annuel-la-dynamique-agro-ecologique-en-2016

Voss, J., & Bornemann, B. (2011). The politics of reflexive governance: Challenges for designing adaptive management and transition management. Ecology and Society, 16(2). Accessed from: http://ezproxy.library.yorku.ca/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/ docview/925721041?accountid=15182 Filson, G. C., Sethuratnam, S., Adekunle, B., & Lamba, P. (2009). Beneficial management practice adoption in five southern Ontario watersheds. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 33(2), 229-252. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10440040802587421

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