The Strength of Diversity in Nova Scotia Agriculture

Agriculture in Nova Scotia is shaped by the people – across generations, geographies, and lived experiences. Our sector is changing, and its future strength depends on recognizing who is farming, how, and what supports are needed to ensure everyone can succeed.

Farms—and the people behind them—represent a wide range of backgrounds, identities, and experiences. This includes differences in farm size, ownership models, production types, geographic locations, and cultural or generational roots.

We recognize and deeply value the many farm families who have stewarded the land and contributed to their communities for generations. Their long-standing commitment, knowledge, and resilience have shaped the foundation of Nova Scotia’s agricultural landscape and continue to play a vital role in the sustainability of the sector.

At the same time, we must confront the reality that not all farms and individuals have had equal access to opportunity. Deep-rooted barriers—linked to race, gender, language, age, ability, income, immigration status, and access to land—have excluded some from fully participating in the industry.

The sector’s continued resilience is also thanks to the contributions of newcomers—including immigrants, refugees, and temporary foreign workers—who bring new skills, perspectives, and labour essential to sustaining operations. Their presence is not peripheral; it is central to the sector’s ability to meet current and future demands.

Equity and inclusion are part of our core values. To us, this means we create a place for everyone at the table which makes us all stronger together.

We are committed to building a fair and inclusive agriculture sector by recognizing the diversity of people and farm operations across Nova Scotia. This includes acknowledging the varied experiences, backgrounds, and contributions that shape our industry. We aim to ensure equitable access, representation, and support through all programs, services, and organizational practices, and will take intentional steps to embed these principles throughout our work.

To bring this commitment to life, we will take deliberate action in the following ways:

Acknowledging Indigenous Lands by incorporating land acknowledgments in our meetings and materials and engaging in relationships that respect and reflect Mi’kmaq knowledge, priorities, and leadership.
Recognizing the contributions of international workers by promoting practices that support their rights, well-being, and inclusion, and by working with government and partners to ensure responsible employment practices and fair treatment.
Ensuring internal hiring and training practices are inclusive and equitable, including:
Reviewing job postings, recruitment methods, and evaluation criteria to remove unintentional barriers and promote broader access;
Incorporating cultural awareness, accessibility, and inclusive leadership principles into staff onboarding and ongoing training;
Creating welcoming and respectful workplaces where diverse perspectives and lived experiences are valued and supported.
Prioritizing inclusive governance recruitment by encouraging applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and skillsets, and aligning our recruitment and selection processes with values of equity, respectful dialogue, and industry-wide representation.
Engaging with those who have been historically underrepresented in agriculture – such as Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, newcomers, women, youth, and persons with disabilities – to better understand barriers and shape responsive, relevant programming and services.
Tracking and using demographic data to inform decisions, monitor outcomes, and ensure our efforts reflect the diversity of the sector.
Partnering with organizations and communities that bring unique perspectives and expertise to help us improve practices, broaden our reach, and remain accountable to the people we serve.

These actions are how we hold ourselves accountable to the values we stand for—and how we help shape a stronger, more representative future for agriculture in Nova Scotia.