Research, education at the heart of EFAO’s growth

The Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario offers a variety of research and education opportunities for farmers in the province interested in trying more sustainable agricultural practices. ~ Luke Edwards photo

By Luke Edwards

An organization that started with a small handful of Ontario farmers who wanted to share ideas on how to grow food responsibly has grown over the years to include 1,000 members, offering a wide variety of research and education.

But throughout it all, the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario has kept one thing top of mind: the farmer.

“It’s still very much farmer led,” said Ali English, EFAO executive director.

“Education is at the heart of what we do.”

EFAO began in 1979 with a group of farmers who wanted to learn from each other. In those days, the nascent ecological agriculture movement still had a lot of growing to do. Back then English said ideas like cover crops weren’t nearly as mainstream as they are today. Those who started EFAO were the early adopters to organic farming practices, and other approaches that have gained traction in the ensuing years.

Nowadays, EFAO tries to stay true to its grassroots founding, but has grown and evolved to offer more expertise, education and research for farmers. Webinars are offered, mostly in the winter when farmers have a little more time, and a December conference usually welcomes about 400 attendees.

Farmer-led research programs utilize a small but mighty EFAO team, covering topics like soil health, seed selection, disease and pest control, cover crops and pasture regeneration.

They also just wrapped up the final intake for a successful small grains program, which encouraged farmers to try including small grains like oats, rye and barley into their crop rotations.

Using a reverse bidding process, farmers would receive payments for using small grains, and give them a chance to see the potential benefits of incorporating such crops. Research has suggested these small grain crops can increase yields for later corn or soybean crops, reduce pesticide use, build soil health and improve water quality.

Significant growth for EFAO membership in recent years has been driven by a few factors, English suggested. The first was an organizational push, moving from an all-volunteer organization to hiring dedicated staff. However, she also said there’s more interest among the farming community.

“There’s no doubt there’s been increased interest from all avenues,” she said.

One area the organization has focused on are the demographics not traditionally associated with farming in Ontario, such as Indigenous farmers or people of colour.

They also have a mix of experience level, with many new and aspiring farmers alongside those who’ve been doing it for a while.

“It’s a diverse group of folks,” English said.

The organization is in the midst of finalizing a new five-year strategic plan, which includes a focus on three priorities: financial viability, new farmers, and strengthening a sense of belonging for farmers, especially among Indigenous and people of colour.

For more information on the organization, visit efao.ca. They maintain a newsletter and have information on their various research projects and education sessions.