The Canadian food system's reputation has taken a significant hit in the last couple years, said Ashely Bruner of the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI) during a recent webinar.

Public trust in Canadian food system at a low
Research organization says more needs to be done by the agriculture industry to engage consumers and gain influence

Politicians should view decisions with a ‘food lens’ amid trade tensions say experts
Agriculture, particularly in the West, struggles to get adequate representation in government
Politicians should apply a “food lens” to decision-making to protect Canada’s agriculture sector amid trade tensions, some experts say.

Canada’s agricultural policies are falling short of health and sustainability goals
Canada's current agricultural policies are not serving the well-being of the public. Canada's agricultural program payments and subsidies are not aligned with the government's dietary guidelines and health goals.

National school food program announced
Federal government says program aims to start with 2024/25 school year
The federal government plans to spend over $1 billion over five years on a national school food program that will feed an additional 400,000 school-aged children a year.

Local food system would reap big economic benefits researcher says
B.C. researchers found that the Okanagan could produce two thirds of its own food while maintaining exports
Assuming an average Canadian diet, the Okanagan can currently produce 88 per cent of its dairy needs, Mullinix and colleagues wrote in a report on the study. It can produce 60 per cent of its poultry needs, 34 per cent of its fruit needs (due to fruits eaten that can’t be grown in the region, or are eaten out of season), and small amounts of other food groups like grains, red meat, eggs and oils.

New report shows poultry sector burdened by expectations
Simpson Centre paper calls for increased research, financial sustainability for sector
Updated, May 17 — The Simpson Centre for Food and Agricultural Policy has released a report detailing its findings on challenges now facing Canada’s poultry sector. The report, co-authored by research assistant Shawn Wiskar and centre director Guillaume Lhermie and released Thursday, used a focus group of six stakeholders in the Canadian poultry industry. It […] Read more

Getting food seems like such a simple thing, doesn’t it?
Reading Time: 4 minutes Christopher Mills, 14, of Vauxhall, is the junior winner of the Alberta Young Speakers for Agriculture competition. In his speech, he addressed the question: Food waste, food security and food policy: What is agriculture’s/aquaculture’s role? It’s 4 o’clock in the afternoon and I just came home from school and I am starving. I decide to […] Read more

Advisory council named to steer national Food Policy
Development of Canada’s Food Policy is taking a major step forward with the naming Friday of a new advisory council featuring industry, academic and government members tasked with guiding the policy. Public consultations on a “Food Policy for Canada” started in 2017, leading to the release of a 2018 report from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada […] Read more

We can put food at the centre of our national economy
We have a new appreciation for food systems, and a chance to capitalize on our strengths
Reading Time: 3 minutes Nature is the great equalizer. In just three months she took the world from assured continuance along the path of globalization and commercialism to world recognition of one simple fact — we all need to eat. For many years, there have been calls to recognize the importance of agriculture. I have been in that camp, […] Read more

Federal food policy aims to lift local and Canadian-grown products
Federal programs to boost the profile of domestic and locally grown foods at home while reducing food waste, food insecurity and deceptive food marketing are all up for funding under the government’s new Food Policy for Canada. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Parliamentary Ag Secretary Jean-Claude Poissant announced the new policy Monday in Montreal, following […] Read more