Why enter the agricultural system? – Open Access Government

Report on New Entrants in Alberta’s Agri-Food Sector and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

A notable trend is emerging in Alberta’s agricultural sector, characterized by an increase in new entrants to small-scale industries, specifically berry and honey production. These individuals and groups are not casual experimenters but strategic entrepreneurs committed to sustainable and viable farming. Their entry aligns with a societal revaluation of agriculture, emphasizing its role in economic development, environmental conservation, and food quality, thereby contributing directly to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Profile of New Agricultural Entrants and Contribution to Sustainable Economies

The new wave of agricultural entrepreneurs in Alberta can be classified into three distinct categories, each contributing to sustainable economic growth and resilient communities, in line with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

1. Succession Farmers (Continuers): Individuals from farming backgrounds who are repurposing family-owned land for small-scale berry or honey production. This shift often involves adopting business models like U-pick operations and agritourism, which strengthens local economies and promotes sustainable land use, contributing to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
2. Young Entrants (Post-Secondary): Individuals without a family farming background who pursue agricultural careers immediately after high school. Through university degrees, college programs, or apprenticeships, they bring fresh perspectives and skills to the sector, often becoming first-generation landowners dedicated to modern, sustainable practices.
3. Career Changers: Individuals who transition into agriculture later in life, leveraging skills from previous careers in business, finance, and marketing. Their entry diversifies the sector’s skill base and fosters innovative business models that enhance the economic viability of small-scale farming.

Motivations Driving Entry and Support for Global Goals

The motivations of new entrants are complex, blending personal passion with entrepreneurial ambition. These drivers are critical for fostering a resilient agricultural system and directly support key SDGs.

Commitment to Sustainable Food Systems and Environmental Health

A primary motivation is a profound passion for contributing to the food system. This commitment is fundamental to achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by enhancing local and safe food production and strengthening food supply chains. New entrants express a dedication to:

• Environmental Sustainability: Many are passionate about agroecology and land restoration, including the conservation of native honey bee populations, which directly supports SDG 15 (Life on Land).
• Food Security and Nutrition: By promoting native berry species and educating consumers on nutritional value, these producers advance goals related to healthy diets and sustainable food systems under SDG 2.
• Local Production: There is a strong desire to reconnect with consumers and build community-based food networks, fostering responsible consumption patterns as outlined in SDG 12.

Entrepreneurial Drive for a Green Economy

Alongside passion, the entrepreneurial motivation to operate a profitable business is a key driver. This aligns with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by creating sustainable jobs and contributing to rural economic development. The innovative and adaptable nature of these new farmers makes the agricultural system more competitive and viable for the future.

Challenges and Policy Implications for Achieving the SDGs

Understanding the motivations and barriers faced by new entrants is essential for developing policies that support a sustainable agricultural future.

Barriers to Sustainable Agricultural Development

The most significant impediment for new farmers is land access, driven by rising prices that exceed the agricultural profitability of the land. This barrier directly threatens the achievement of several SDGs:

• It limits the entry of innovative farmers who are crucial for advancing SDG 2 (Sustainable Agriculture).
• It stifles entrepreneurship and job creation, hindering progress on SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• It can exacerbate inequalities in access to economic resources, working against SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Policy Recommendations for a Sustainable Future

To foster a new generation of farmers, public policy must address these challenges. Supporting new entrants is critical for building a more sustainable, competitive, and resilient agricultural sector. Recommended strategies include:

• Financial Support and Incentives: As demonstrated by the EU Rural Development Policy, providing investment subsidies, innovation incentives, and access to credit can help new farmers overcome initial capital hurdles.
• Land Access Programs: Implementing land matching programs and policies that reduce the costs associated with farm transfers can mitigate the primary barrier of land access.
• Retirement and Succession Planning: Policies that facilitate the transfer of farms to the next generation, such as reducing taxes on transfers and increasing pension rights for retiring farmers, can ensure a smooth transition and continuity of sustainable practices.

By implementing such supportive policies, governments can shape the transition from motivation to reality, ensuring that new entrants can successfully contribute to a sustainable and food-secure future in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article directly addresses SDG 2 by focusing on agriculture, food production, and the food system. It highlights the motivations of new farmers to “produce food and, in some way, contribute to the agricultural food system.” It also touches upon food security issues like “local and safe food production” and the “disruption in global food supply chains,” which are central to the goal of ending hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article connects to SDG 8 by discussing the role of new entrants as “entrepreneurs and farmers” who contribute to “economic development” and “regional development.” It explores the challenges of creating viable small-scale businesses, such as “low expected profits” and “increasing capital costs,” and notes that new farmers are often “more innovative, entrepreneurial, and adaptable,” which can make the agricultural system more competitive and contribute to economic growth.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article relates to SDG 11 by discussing the strengthening of links between rural producers and local communities. It mentions the importance of “short food supply chains in rural development” and farmers’ passion to “reconnect directly with consumers.” The example of “U-pick operations” located due to “proximity to large urban consumer bases” illustrates the development of sustainable economic and social links between rural and urban areas.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  This goal is addressed through the article’s focus on sustainable agricultural practices. It notes that new entrants’ choice of operations includes “sustainable agriculture, organic production, [and] small-scale production.” The emphasis on “direct marketing and consumer education (i.e., promoting the nutritional value of berries)” also promotes responsible consumption patterns by connecting consumers more closely with the source and quality of their food.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article clearly connects to SDG 15 through its discussion of environmental stewardship. Farmers are motivated by “environmental conservation” and a “great passion for agroecology and working on the land to restore the land.” A specific example provided is the focus on “bee health” and the goal of “restoring the native honey bee population,” which is critical for protecting biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 2.3: Double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers

  The article’s focus is entirely on “new entrants into the small-scale agricultural industry,” specifically berry and honey producers. It directly addresses the income aspect of this target by identifying “low expected profits” and the “entrepreneurial motivation to earn a profit” as critical factors for their success and sustainability.

• Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices

  This target is identified through the motivations and practices of the new farmers described. The article states their passions include “environmental sustainability” and “agroecology.” It also mentions that policy and support can influence their choice of “production practices (sustainable agriculture, organic production, small-scale production, etc.).”

• Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises

  The article highlights that new entrants are “entrepreneurs” establishing small-scale farms. It underscores the need for “public policy” to support them, suggesting measures like “investment subsidies,” “access to credit,” and “land matching programs” to help overcome barriers and foster the growth of these small agricultural enterprises.

• Target 11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas

  This target is reflected in the article’s discussion of “short food supply chains” and “regional development.” The text describes farmers who are passionate about “reconnect[ing] directly with consumers” and being “present as an operation within the local community context,” thereby strengthening the links between rural producers and the communities they serve, including nearby urban centers.

• Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species

  The article points to this target through its specific mention of bee conservation. The passion of new entrants for “restoring the native honey bee population” and addressing “bee health” is a direct action aimed at halting the loss of a critical pollinator species, which is essential for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of new entrants in small-scale agriculture

  The article’s entire premise is the “increase in the number of new entrants,” but it also warns of a “decreasing rate of new farmers entering the industry.” This number serves as a direct indicator of the health and attractiveness of the small-scale farming sector and the effectiveness of policies designed to support it (relevant to Target 8.3).

• Profitability of small-scale farms

  The article implies profitability is a key metric by citing “low expected profits” as a major barrier and the “motivation to earn a profit” as a primary driver. The net profits that farmers can earn from their land, as mentioned in the text, would be a crucial indicator of their economic viability and progress towards Target 2.3.

• Adoption of sustainable agricultural practices

  The article mentions that new entrants choose operations based on practices like “sustainable agriculture, organic production,” and “agroecology.” The rate of adoption of these practices among new and existing farms would be a clear indicator of progress towards Target 2.4.

• Land access and affordability for new farmers

  The article explicitly states that “land access is the most common reason that beginning farmers… quit” and that “increasing land prices” are a critical barrier. Therefore, tracking metrics like the price of agricultural land (the article cites a 6% increase in 2020) and the success rate of land matching programs would serve as indicators for measuring barriers to entry for new farmers (relevant to Target 8.3).

• Health of pollinator populations

  The stated motivation to address “bee health” and restore the “native honey bee population” implies that the status of these populations is a relevant environmental indicator. Monitoring the population trends of native bees in agricultural areas would directly measure progress towards the conservation goals mentioned in the article (relevant to Target 15.5).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: openaccessgovernment.org