Webinar: NFUO: Farm Labour Unity – Empowering Farmworkers

Farmworkers are making moves! Until recently, the corporate agricultural industry has dominated the narrative of the so-called “farm labour crisis” and glossed over the in-the-dirt realities of migrant and domestic farmworkers in Canada. Similarly, the often-innovative labour performed by both farm operators and their aspiring farmer staff on organic and agroecological farms has escaped public attention. A 2020 NFU-O Farm Labour Report, a 2022 OCO labour market research project, a brand new NFU farmworker membership category, and a November/December 2022 Briarpatch article written by progressive farmworkers are placing the challenges, realities, and opportunities of farm labour on agroecological farms in an age of unprecedented agricultural crises in perspective. Join the Briarpatch writers and an OCO representative to understand the “farm labour crisis” in a new light and learn how together we can empower each other to raise the value and profile of farm labour.

Hannah Kaya: Hannah is a farm worker working and living in unceded Anishinaabeg territory. She serves as the Farm Worker Organizer for the National Farmers Union.

Briana Vanular: Briana is a Policy and Research Coordinator with OCO working on the Labour Project. While studying Human Environment and Environmental Assessment at Concordia University, she became passionate about organic and regenerative farming as one solution to the environmental challenges we face today. She is particularly interested in themes of food sovereignty, accessibility, and community food operations.