The issue of securing our social license is a growing topic for the agricultural sector.

Social license relates to societies trust in and acceptance of today’s modern food production.

Making sure consumers are fully aware and understand what’s happening in the agriculture sector and why is important to maintaining our social license.

Krystal Aulie the Province’s Ag Awareness Specialist addressed the issue this week during a Farm Management Outlook Seminar in Moose Jaw.

“About doing the right things in the industry. Making sure were following best management practices and planning all those sustainable practices that we know we need to do to do the right thing on the farm and in our industry. The second piece around that is awareness of what we do and why we do it, so that consumers can trust us to do the right things on our farms and ultimately allow us access to the tools and technology that we need to produce food for a growing world.”

Aulie says getting the right message out to consumers is a priority for Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture. The spin that some activists put on agriculture has detrimental effects.

Aulie says the social license in question relates to societies trust in and acceptance of today’s modern food production. She says the first step is making sure we are responsibly growing this food

“Whether you’re a conventional grower or organic producer it’s still about following best management practices and employing sound economics. That is modern food production, it’s doing the things based on the technology and science we have available on all sides of the table. That’s just one piece and making sure that we can communicate that story.”

Minimum tillage in just one of the success stories in Saskatchewan as it employs sound agronomic strategies which keep our nutrients in the soil instead of having to top soil blowing away in the wind according to Aulie.