The Uphill Struggle to Prevail: National Farm Organizations in Canada

Abstract

This chapter provides a historical and contemporary overview of the coordinating and representational capacities, and consequent policy influence of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) and the National Farmers' Union (NFU). It examines logic of membership and logic of influence factors. Canada's system of multi-level governance importantly shapes the organizational logic and cohesion of agricultural producers, and by extension, the influence of national farm interest groups. The CFA and the NFU have taken distinct substantive approaches to these issues and the threat posed to farmers' centrality in agri-food policy making by the controversy has aroused. The position of the CFA and that of the Government of Canada have been closely aligned on biotechnology policy. Both endorse the licensing of genetic modification (GM) foods and crops solely on the basis of available scientific evidence demonstrating their health and environmental safety.