NFCF
Membership
Legal
A commodity organization is a not-for-profit, federally incorporated organization that represent farmers of a specific agriculturally farmed product. Agricultural commodity organizations, much like the Federation of Cannabis Farmers (FCF), typically focus on market development, industry research, policy advocacy, producer representation, and programs that support the commodity’s long-term success and growth. Commodity organizations coordinate shared priorities, education, research, and policy work that improves farm viability and sector stability.
A national commodity board unifies regional producer groups and aligned associations under one governance structure. A national commodity board, much like the National Federation of Cannabis Farmers (NFCF), coordinates national priorities, research, and policy work using defined rules and transparent decision-making. NFCF operates as a member-led cannabis commodity board and openly acknowledges cannabis farming as an agricultural commodity.
FCF organizations operate regionally and provincially to support local farm priorities. NFCF unifies those federations plus NFCF-approved cannabis industry associations under one national banner. Membership begins through an FCF organization and then connects to potential leadership opportunities, national governance participation, and national objectives. This model creates a federation of federations that strengthens coherence and credibility in cannabis.
FCF Community Membership is designed for Health Canada licenced cannabis producers. Eligibility and participation follow membership rules and governance policies which can be found on the FCF website. Each applicant follows the same application process, and membership approval includes review under NFCF Board oversight. This model supports consistent standards and a trusted national community for Canadian cannabis producers.
Membership begins with a Community Membership application through an FCF organization. The application is processed and reviewed by the NFCF Board to confirm eligibility and good standing. After approval, onboarding activates through an automated flow that enables access to member services such as the Online Farming Community and other benefits. This approach balances speed of access with consistent governance standards.
Member Services include the Online Farming Community, Academic Research Projects, Farmer-Led Research Trials, Trusted Industry Lab Partnerships, NFCF Membership Benefits, and access to the Verified Buyers Program platform once available. CALP eligibility applies for qualified production leaders. Services connect through a community hub model designed to simplify access and national coordination.
The Online Farming Community is a vetted, invite-only online community designed for licensed producers and vetted industry professionals. Public channels support organization-wide updates and discussion. Members-only channels support content-specific topics. Engagement unlocks additional channels over time. The community also functions as a hub for accessing Member Services, including platform-based apps and membership benefits.
The Cannabis Agriculture Leadership Program (CALP) is an 8-month national executive-level program for experienced producers seeking stronger leadership capacity, national industry context, and cannabis agronomy knowledge. Eligible candidates are FCF Community Members in upper management production roles at Health Canada licenced facilities, with one candidate per licence accepted each class. Participation requires time commitment, seminars, assessments, and an Individual Leadership Project (ILP).
The Verified Buyers Program standardizes B2B sales through a 0% commission broker platform connected to a national network of Health Canada licenced producers. It streamlines and standardizes product listings using consistent fields and a comprehensive search system. The platform adds buyer accountability through a Report Card and leaderboard that helps producers recognize reputable buyers and identify risk patterns early.
The Verified Buyers Program (VBP) Report Card system tracks buyer performance through producer feedback surveys and assigns a 0 to 100% authorized buyer rating. Consistent, reputable performance raises the score, while poor and inconsistent performance lowers it. Scores display in a leaderboard inside the app. At 50% or lower, the executive team meets with the buyer to address concerns. Below 25%, the Board reviews and decides membership status.
NFCF is led through a Board of Directors and Officers elected through governance processes set in the By-Laws and Membership Policy. National Members participate through appointed delegate representation from FCF organizations and NFCF-approved industry associations. NFCF directors are listed on the Our Team page for transparency. Ethical governance frameworks guide decision-making, accountability, and professional organizational conduct expectations.
FCF receives funding from government grants, agricultural organizations, accredited academic institutions, provincial cannabis wholesalers, cannabis labs, ancillary cannabis companies, and other partners within agriculture and the cannabis industry. FCF does not accept sponsorship funding from Health Canada licenced producers. The model prioritizes member value and service delivery rather than profit and hidden agendas. Funding supports member services, program delivery, research collaboration, platform development, governance operations, and national objective work. Funding sources and use should remain transparent and aligned with not-for-profit obligations.
Funding supports delivery of Member Services, program coordination, leadership education, research collaboration, farmer-ready reporting, and platform operations. Funding also supports governance administration, compliance, communications, and national coordination across regions. Fees and revenues are reinvested into strengthening cannabis farming leadership capacity, supporting member priorities, and advancing national objectives that improve farm viability and sector stability. Funding is invested in NFCF projects and services that support our farm members and the future of cannabis farming. The Board decides how funding is allocated to approved initiatives. Additionally, funding covers NFCF’s administrative operations, business expenses, and salaries.
NFCF advances ethical cannabis advocacy through democratic member direction and evidence-led policy development. NFCF's national objective is to support Health Canada licensed cannabis farms accessing agriculture programs under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), aligning cannabis farming with other Canadian agricultural commodities. Farm data, academic research, farmer-led research, and national agricultural commodity board representation aims to support future generations of Canadian cannabis farmers with accessing AAFC programs.
Join the Federation of Cannabis Farmers and shape the future of the cannabis farming industry, nationwide.
