Have you ever wondered exactly how sustainable agriculture is better than industrial? If you follow the link, you'll see a chart which is an easy reference that quickly and easily shows how sustainable farming is much more beneficial than industrial agriculture.

A lot has happened since our last Chicken and Egg Dance and fortunately we have good news to share this year. The huge effort of the organic producers, retailers and consumers through the letter writing and post card campaigns has resulted in a move by the provincial government to bring some fairness into the marketing board system with regard to organic producers. The provincial government ordered another review of marketing boards. George Leroux presented his report “Recommendations for Managing Specialty Agri-Food Products in B.C.’s Supply Managed System” to the Minister of Agriculture on December 20th, 2004. This report can be obtained off the Ministry of Agriculture website.

BCARA (B.C. Association for Regenerative Agriculture) is one of 5 organic certification bodies operating in the lower Fraser Valley. It certifies just over 50 farms. 16 farms raise poultry as a part of their farm. CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) killed the birds on 4 of these farms, 4 farms killed their own birds or did not place birds due to the avian flu, 2 farms were allowed to raise their birds to slaughter age then could not place birds until the ban was lifted, 6 farms were allowed to continue with their poultry since they fell outside the hot zones of the valley.

The proposed changes to the PBR Act would, if implemented, impose many more restrictions and prohibitions on farmers who save seed; reverse the onus on burden of proof; extend protection periods on varieties of seeds and plants protected by intellectual property rights legislation; and increase farmers’ operating costs through the expansion of royalty fees.

1. Oppose changes to Plant Breeders Rights Act before 8 March 2005
   Canadian Food Inspection Agency (www.inspection.gc.ca) - text of proposed changes
   contact person: Valerie Scisson, Commissioner CFIA
   e-mail: cfiamaster@inspection.gc.ca
   phone: 613-225-2342
   
   
2. Support the National Farmers Union (www.nfu.ca) in their multi-year national campaign to enshrine the rights of farmers and other Canadians to save, re-use, select, exchange and sell seeds and in their work towards a well-funded, public, not-for-profit plant breeding program.
   
   
3. Stay informed: www.etcgroup.org and www.organics.bc.ca
   
   
4. Eat mindfully
   
   
5. Send the following letter to any or all of the person on the contact list below. Just copy and paste the sample letter to the body of the email and send.

Seeds for the Future Conference and AGM
Mary Winspear Centre at Sancha, Sidney BC
Starting on Friday, February 25, 2005 at 6pm
Ending on Sunday, February 27, 2005 at 3pm