Gillian Flies

I think the most important potential impact of Farmers for Climate Solutions is making agriculture part of the solution to mitigating climate change. I think it is going to be hugely important in helping Canada and the world quite frankly in reaching the targets that we have to reach by 2030 and 2050. No real change has happened without big policy changes, like smoking or seatbelts or women voting. This doesn't happen by just trying to encourage people to do the right thing. This happens with policy change and incentives to change."

– Gillian Flies, President, Canadian Organic Growers

Ian McCreary

Ultimately what we want to see is an interest in greenhouse gas issues, measurement, and ongoing learning within the core heart of the agricultural community. We want to bring the greenhouse gas constraint to the production system in a way that it becomes part of everyday discussion and farm meetings. It has to change the conversation in a way that recognizes that agriculture currently has practices that are problematic, which is not accepted widely and accept the view that the change is not only necessary, but it's very possible."

– Ian McCreary, Owner Operator, McCreary Land and Livestock, SK

Derek Leahy

“We all recognize that we need policy change. The fact that Farmers for Climate Solutions is doing it on a federal level is going to have implications for us at the provincial level. Being a part of something bigger, knowing that there are other players out there, it gives our farmers in Alberta a larger platform and it gives us a bit of pride out here.”

– Derek Leahy, Director, Rural Routes to Climate Solutions

Cedric MacLeod

The most valuable thing so far about being involved in Farmers for Climate Solutions is the discussion and linking with other associations that I wouldn't have the opportunity to link with. We have closed the divide on some varying ideas of how Canadian agriculture can and should function and we are coming together with some more parallel thought processes. The second most valuable part was the opportunity to engage with my peers in the social and economic sciences as well as the earth sciences through the technical advisory committee. That's been hugely valuable for me."

– Cedric MacLeod, Executive Director, Canadian Forage and Grassland Association

Sara Dent

Sara Dent

"What has been most valuable for Young Agrarians about being involved in Farmers for Climate Solutions is having a national group of organizations that are working at the federal policy level because I work at the provincial level. It makes me feel like I don't have to figure out how to crack all the nuts.

We run five programs and we're all about program implementation and supporting people on the ground. So it's great to have something like Farmers for Climate Solutions and people who are paid to coordinate a federal coalition focused on climate adaptation on farms, which is so important to the future of our food systems."

– Sara Dent, Executive Director, Young Agrarians

Brent Preston

Brent Preston

“Farmers for Climate Solutions has given EFAO a vehicle to carry out the government relations and policy work that our organization has wanted to do but hasn't had the experience or the means to do it. There was a real recognition among the members that all of our individual goals as farmers would be better served if we were helping to promote ecological farming practices outside of our small communities.

So, when Farmers for Climate Solutions came along, we jumped on board because it allowed us to do those things that we had wanted to do for a while."

- Brent Preston, President, Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario