Overview of ILO issues in Nova Scotia
Local Food Systems Development
The opportunities for local food systems development in Nova Scotia are numerous (many of which are listed below). Geographically, there is lots of available land that is prime for agricultural activity and that has been unused for many years, making it ideal for anyone interested in organic or holistic farm management. There are several constraints, however, some of which include a lack of young people choosing a career in farming as well as the capital needed for infrastructure and buying quota purchases.
The most widespread successes of local food systems development are listed below, and focus largely on small to medium scale farm businesses with emphasis placed on direct sales to the consumer.
There is growing interest in organic agriculture in the maritime provinces, given the growing consumer demand for healthy and sustainably produced food. Recently, ACORN commissioned a study titled "Organic Research and Market Plan: Final Report" which was "...commissioned to explore both the domestic and export market opportunities for organic agri-food producers in the Atlantic Canada region." Findings highlight that the real challenge for development of a string organic industry in the Maritimes is the ability for smaller producers in the region to meet the growing demands of the marketplace in terms of volume, price, and quality. The report can be read in full at: http://acornorganic.org/pdf/MarketingFinalReport.pdf