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Sustainability vision affirms 6 strategic goals

In December 2009, the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission (SaskFlax) adopted a new vision for sustainability. This vision was developed by a multi-stakeholder group of people that included flax producers, processors, consumers, and representatives from both provincial and federal governments. As both the agricultural context and sustainability issues are continually evolving, this vision will be periodically reviewed and revised as required. The vision reads as follows:

Through example of our practices, the impact of our products and through the regional development opportunities we create, the Canadian flax industry is recognized as a contributor to healthy, vibrant and sustainable communities.

By leading the production and promotion of flax and flax-based products to the world, SaskFlax is recognized as a leader in the development of a sustainable society. Our sustainability vision describes a state where the flax value chain is aligned with the four basic sustainability principles of The Natural Step.

With the new vision, SaskFlax is committed to realizing the following 6 strategic goals:

  1. Complete plant utilization, valuing the seed and straw components of the flax crop.
  2. Flax and flax products are solutions for sustainability.
  3. Flax is considered by producers to be a “crop of choice”.
  4. Production and transformation have net positive impacts on natural and social systems.
  5. Regional transformation of flax seed and straw.
  6. Development of necessary human capital and leadership.

These goals are being integrated into the industry's decision-making and planning so that value chains are developed that contribute to a sustainable future.

This document is available in PDF format, in both English and French.

For more information, contact:

Linda Braun, Executive Director
Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission
Saskatoon, SK
Tel. 306-664-1901
Email: saskflax@saskflax.com

The Natural Step – 4 Sustainability Principles

To become a sustainable society, we must:

  1. Eliminate our contribution to the progressive build-up of substances extracted from the Earth's crust (e.g. metals, fossil fuels, etc.)
  2. Eliminate our contribution to the progressive build-up of chemicals and compounds produced by society (e.g. dioxins, PCBs or CO2 from combustion of fossil fuels)
  3. Eliminate our contribution to the progressive physical degradation and destruction of nature and natural processes (e.g. over harvesting forests, destroying critical wildlife habitat, increasing soil erosion
  4. Eliminate our contribution to conditions that undermine people’s capacity to meet their basic human needs (e.g. unsafe working conditions, not enough pay to live on)

Source: The Natural Step Canada: www.thenaturalstep.org/the-system-conditions

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