Factory Farming Beyond Canada - International ILO Implications
Factory farming in Canada is affected by international trade agreements, the policies and economies of importing and exporting nations, and Canada’s agricultural policies vis a vis trade and export of livestock and meat.
Canada’s factory farming situation affects other countries as it has an impact on the ability of importing nations and their domestic livestock production system and the ability of farmers in other countries to earn a livelihood.
As citizens in Canada, USA and Europe make it more difficult for companies to off-load costs onto rural communities, the environment and future generations, the global factory farming industry turns to countries with weaker regulations such as Poland, Brazil and Mexico.
The Beyond Factory Farming Coalition’s mission includes food sovereignty. Food sovereignty is the right of communities, peoples and countries (including regional groups of countries) to determine their own agricultural and food policies and protect and regulate domestic agricultural production and trade in order to meet sustainable development objectives. Therefore, food sovereignty is incompatible with international trade agreements that penalize nations for protecting their own food systems.
Linkages between Canadians and people in other countries can help us understand the consequences of decisions made here and abroad.
- Via Campesina
- Oxfam Canada
- Heifer International
- Canadian Council for International Cooperation - Food Policy Group
The implications for livestock production of trade agreements such as the WTO, NAFTA, the FTTA and others are significant.
- Free Trade — Is It Working For Farmers: a comprehensive analysis by the National Farmers Union
- Making the Links: A Peoples’ Guide to the WTO and the FTAA (pdf) a report by Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke
- Environmental reasons to Oppose the FTAA by the Sierra Club of Canada
- Food First: Challenging the FTAA