An accompaniment to the panel “The Road Ahead: building bridges for the future.”

Indigenous entrepreneurs speak to issues in Canadian agriculture

Access to funding one of the biggest barriers, say Indigenous entrepreneurs

Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Indigenous entrepreneurs spoke about the challenges they face in agricultural business, and the importance of community, at the recent Future of Food Conference in Ottawa. Wabanaki Maple CEO and founder Jolene Johnson, Manitoulin Brewing Company co-owner Nishin Meawasige and Kitasoo Development Corporation general manager Isaiah Robinson spoke on a panel moderated by […] Read more





The Alberta Sugar Beet Growers say a national strategy would allow industry expansion.

Beets won’t benefit from Hamilton sugar refinery

Sugar beet growers want more market share for their locally grown crop, but they won’t get it from Canada’s newest sugar refinery

Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – When shelves across Western Canada were empty of sugar after strike action at the Rogers Sugar refinery in Vancouver, Canada’s sugar beet growers renewed calls for a national sugar strategy. Groups including the Alberta Sugar Beet Growers have long decried Canada’s reliance on imported cane sugar rather than Canadian-grown sugar beets. Alberta’s crop makes up about eight per cent of the sugar consumed […] Read more

House committee urges biosecurity boost

House committee urges biosecurity boost

Report calls for annual reviews, new vaccines, and says veterinarian shortage worrying

Reading Time: 2 minutes A new report from the House of Commons agriculture committee recommends stronger defences when it comes to diseases like avian influenza, BSE, foot and mouth disease and African swine fever. The report, “Protecting Against Animal Biosecurity Risks: The State of Canada’s Preparedness,” included seven recommendations to combat existing and future disease concerns. Animal disease outbreaks […] Read more


“Our sectors and our drivers want reassurance that a threat to animal welfare is deemed an emergency situation.” – Cathy Jo Noble, National Cattle Feeders’ Association vice-president.

Emergency definition on hotseat in transport report

Emergency management and hours of service among concerns for House ag committee

Reading Time: 2 minutes Truck drivers can legally exceed their regulated hours if it’s an emergency, but when does animal welfare meet that description? That was among the topics tackled as the House of Commons standing committee on agriculture released its report on challenges facing the livestock transport sector. The report, “Striking a Balance: Electronic Logging Device Requirements Impacting […] Read more

Peter Dhillon (left) speaks at the Arrell Food Summit on Nov. 14.

Future of food, sustainable business top agenda at Arrell Food Summit

Leaders and investors in Canada’s agriculture sector discuss climate change, avoiding food crisis

Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – Industry leaders discussed climate solutions and the future of Canadian food at the Arrell Food Summit: Pathway to Change, hosted by the Arrell Food Institute in Toronto earlier this winter. The eventt brings together agri-food leaders and experts to exchange ideas and learn more about topics affecting global food systems. In the […] Read more


A DOT (now OmniPower) autonomous unit at work on the Olds College Smart Farm. (Olds College video screengrab via YouTube)

Smart farm competition encourages farmers to adopt technology

Competition will serve as opportunity to create and develop smart farm networks

The Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) is seeking applications for a competition geared toward creating or developing new smart farm networks. Funding under this initiative will support collaborative on-farm tech innovations in hopes encouraging farmers to adopt emergent agriculture technology. CAAIN receives funding from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to address challenges […] Read more

According to a recent Farm Credit Canada report, food service sales in 2023 are back to pre-pandemic levels but below the pre-pandemic trend in most cases.

Alberta leads national foodservice recovery

Wild rose province sees largest spike in sales in national survey

Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta leads the country when it comes to increases in food service sales, with 7.3 per cent growth, according to a recent report from Farm Credit Canada. The report states that sales in 2023 are back to pre-pandemic levels but below the pre-pandemic trend in most cases. Alberta is followed by Ontario at 5.3 per […] Read more