March 19th & 20th, 2024
NFU-O AGM & Convention 2024: "Soil: A Matter of Biology"
Feeling disconnected from other farmers? Eager to meet like-minded individuals who share your passion for sustainable agriculture? Look no further! Our AGM & Convention is your ticket to a vibrant, connected community.
We are excited to invite you to be a part of our AGM & Convention on March 19th & 20th, 2024!
Our AGM & Convention will be hosted hybridly! We’re excited to announce that, after three years of meeting virtually, we’ll be returning to in-person this year and will convene at the beautiful Arboretum at the University of Guelph. The ability to attend via Zoom will also be available for members who prefer to participate remotely.
NFU-O AGM & Convention 2024: "Soil: A Matter of Biology"
We think you’ll agree that our theme this year, “Soil: A Matter of Biology”, holds paramount importance to our farming community.
Soil is not just a medium for plant growth; it is a dynamic, living ecosystem teeming with microbial life, fungi, and countless organisms that form a complex web of interactions. In addition to supporting plant growth, healthy soils play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity, supporting water filtration, enhancing the ecosystem’s resilience, and acting as a carbon sequestration powerhouse.
In all regions of Canada, soil degradation has developed into a major national concern. Whether from wind erosion on the prairies, water erosion in Ontario and the Maritimes, or from excessive fertilizer use in the endless pursuit of increased crop yields across the country, the decline in soil conditions threatens local & global food growing capacities.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. The National Farmers Union - Ontario (NFU-O) has long since recognized the importance of soil & has championed direct support to farmers implementing soil conservation practices, like crop rotation or reduced tillage, that build up organic matter in the soil. The 2024 NFU-O AGM will position the transformative potential of soil as a matter of biology, rather than chemistry.
Our Annual General Meeting will explore the multifaceted importance of living soils and how they contribute to the broader goals of sustainable agriculture. Join us for one day or for both and celebrate the richness of living soils and their indispensable role in cultivating a sustainable and prosperous agricultural future.
Being part of a well run/organized meeting and getting to be part of the entire process was so enjoyable. Never been part of a meeting like this before but look forward to more in the future!
– 2023 NFU-O AGM Attendee
KEYNOTE ANNOUNCEMENT: Vivian Kaloxilos
Join us at 6:30pm on Tuesday, March 19th for this year's keynote address, delivered by Docterre founder, Vivian Kaloxilos!
About the speaker: Vivian is passionate about the natural world, assisting and documenting life and biodiversity as it bounces back from states of degradation. She is an ecologist who specializes in soil ecology and applied soil life regeneration. She sees herself as a support system to farmers and landowners who are at the front lines of the regenerative movement.
Through her company Docterre, founded in 2015, she has been educating, supporting and accompanying farmers in their processes of regenerating soil biodiversity, understanding the connection between the health of subterranean biodiversity and above ground plant and ecosystem health and performance, and helping them to develop the practical skills needed to do so. She has been looking at agricultural soils and composts across Quebec and Ontario under her microscope for a decade, supporting the work of ecologically innovative farmers and documenting their trials this way.
Vivian is a master compost maker, providing compost inoculums that are ecologically balanced and biologically rich, which her clients use to make liquid compost extracts on farm. Before founding Docterre, she taught and mentored Dr. Elaine Ingham’s soil consultants around the globe, was a graduate of McGill’s School of Environment and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in applied field ecology, and completed her Permaculture Design Certificate.
Agenda
Tuesday, March 19th, 2024
1:30 Call to Order Region 3 Convention
2:00 Steering Committee Report and Ratification, Approval of Agenda, Open Nominations
2:20 Regional, National, and Advisory Reports
3:20 BREAK
3:40 Resolutions
4:40 Depth of Field Screening
5:00 DINNER
6:30 KEYNOTE - Vivian Kaloxilos
Wednesday, March 20th, 2024
9:00 BIPOC Caucus Breakfast Gathering
10:30 Welcome & Housekeeping
10:45 PANEL: Farmers on Soil Health
Gain valuable insights from a panel of three farmer experts as they discuss & share their proven techniques for maintaining and enhancing soil health.
12:15 LUNCH BREAK (Youth Caucus Event + All Local Presidents Meeting)
1:30 PANEL: Funding Pathways for Soil Health Initiatives
The Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) will join us to discuss cost-share funding programs that support farmers in implementing best management and sustainability practices on their farms.
2:00 BREAK
*Recess Region 3 Ontario Convention
2:20 NFU-O Annual General Meeting
(Including: Financial Statements, Appointment of Auditor, Review of 2023-2024 Budget, Bylaws, Elections , and Adoption
of Region 3 Policy Resolutions)
3:20 *Reconvene Region 3 Convention
Adoption of Regional Council Members and IPC Representative,
Closing comments from NFU-O President/Region 3 Coordinator
3:35 Adjournment
4:00 Farm Worker Zine Launch & Pub Night
(Location: 10C Shared Space - 42 Carden St, Guelph, ON N1H 3A2)
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*Not a member? No problem! You’re invited too. Attend our AGM & Convention and come learn what we’re all about.
Planning for the 2024 AGM is still underway. More details will be posted here and shared through our email newsletter.
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