Farming Diversity: Womens Past, Present, and Future in Canadian Egg Farming

In 2011, Statistics Canada reported that women comprised only 25% of total farmer numbers. At the same time, an aging male farmer population is causing concern that if the farming sector does not broaden its appeal among women, there will be significant economic implications for its future development. The Egg Farmers of Canada wants to encourage more women to take up egg farming and support existing female producers in their leadership goals, but more knowledge about the systemic reasons for womens limited participation in the industry is needed. Additionally, egg production is supply managed, and therefore it is worth considering whether or not this system provides female egg farmers with different opportunities than the wider agricultural sector. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Bruce Muirhead

Student:

Jodey Nurse-Gupta

Partner:

Egg Farmers of Canada

Discipline:

History

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

University of Waterloo