The GPI soils and agriculture accounts : Genuine progress index, measuring sustainable development

In this engagement, the stories flooded out and our team of six interviewers tried to capture the essence of what was said both in order to identify potential indicators of progress in this largely uncharted area of the social and human dimension of agriculture, and so that the two provinces can begin to chart a way forward towards a healthier and more vibrant farm and food system. [...] In the meantime, the evidence examined for this study points clearly to the remarkably high level of stewardship practiced by many farmers in Nova Scotia and PEI towards their land, environs, and natural resource wealth, regardless of the existence of such payments, and in the face of often daunting financial challenges that may tempt them to take short-cuts at the expense of ecological wellbeing. [...] Social Capital Networks of social relationships—sometimes referred to as social capital—are shown in this chapter of the report to ‘grease the inner workings’ of agriculture in the Maritimes, and even, in some instances, to explain the survival of farming in the face of declining economic viability. [...] A review of this chapter—and particularly of the comments made by farmers in the 2003 GPI farm interviews—may leave the reader with the impression that social capital is alive and well in the farm communities of Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. [...] The indicators, measures, and actions described in the chapter on farm community viability relating to strengthening local food webs, including local food procurement policies and support for direct marketing, constitute one of the most practical and cost-effective paths both to improving farm economic viability in particular and to strengthening social capital and farm community viability in gene