HUMAN-SCALE
FARMS
The family character and the human-scale of farm businesses
are part of Québec’s agricultural heritage.
This is why
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| producers have always insisted on taking charge
of their development tools, all the better to mark them with
their values.
Like other activity sectors in Québec and elsewhere
in the world, concentration has spread to agriculture in
the past few decades, mainly as a result of continuous progress
in technologies. Through the years, we have seen an increase
in production value and volume while the number of businesses
decreased.
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Certain models today are based on integrating farming activities
with other input and transformation sector businesses, further limiting
the decision and management power of farmers.
At the same time, new productions and new production models are
emerging. The strength of the UPA rests on its capacity to connect
and give a voice to all farmers, all the while defining and refining
the fundamental values that generations have supported and stood
for.
Through policy statements and actions, the UPA aims to ensure
the preservation and development of human-scale businesses, owned,
operated and managed by families. To survive, these businesses
must be viable, liveable, transferrable and sustainable.
IN THIS CONTEXT, THE UPA, THROUGH
A POLICY STATEMENT ADOPTED AT THE 2001 GENERAL CONGRESS, HAS FORMALLY
COMMITED TO:
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Promote and develop
collective marketing tools and the sharing of resources to
allow for a better distribution of wealth, to ensure local
and regional development and to guarantee farmers fair compensation
based on production costs. |
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To advocate for the maintenance
and increase of the services required to ensure vibrant rural
communities on the cultural, social and economic level. |
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To pursue actions to ensure protection
of the environment and the development of a sustainable and
diversified agriculture. |
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To help government adapt farm
programs so that they encourage the maintenance, development
and accessibility of human-scale businesses. |
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To promote farming
among young people and young farmers. |
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To develop together
with government all the necessary tools to allow qualified
people who submit sound and serious projects to be able to
establish themselves as farmers. |
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To advocate for
universal access to training and independent consulting services. |
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To develop measures with government
to encourage the maintenance, transfer and accessibility of
the farming heritage from one generation to the next, especially
those measures that will reinforce the sense of pride in the
profession and those that will limit the dismantling of businesses. |
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