Relocalization and Greening of The Agri Food System: Case Organic Farming in Quebec

The objective of this research is to assess the role of proximity in the commercial exchanges of Quebec organic producers and to understand the factors influencing it. To achieve this objective, the commercial practices of 25 organic producers from two regions-one peripheral and the other central-were analyzed. Despite the geographical differences, no significant difference was observed between peripheral and central rural areas regarding the proportion of producers using local marketing channels. Diversified agricultural production, on-farm processing, and the presence of ethical motivations for adopting organic methods prove to be much more relevant indicators for explaining a transition toward the relocalization of agriculture. Finally, the rigidity of the implementation of quota-based production in Quebec, on the other hand, poses an additional challenge to reconnecting agriculture with consumers.