Category: The Grower

Canadian agriculture has an enviable track record of making trade deals with foreign countries. Look what trade has done to strengthen so many subsectors of the agri-food industry, from east to west, from row crops to livestock, to fruit and vegetables.

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These days, with political leaders in both Canada and the U.S. pounding their chests over trade and resources, rhetoric is running high.
But away from the din, another story is emerging.

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Research has been pivotal to advances in agri-food production globally, with few champions mightier than the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. But the promise of modern science, including agricultural research, is threatened by those who consider science an enemy, a frill, a waste of government money or an injustice imposed on the public.

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Efforts to curb food waste are succeeding. A new report from Value Chain Management International (VCMI) shows that, compared to just five years ago, overall food waste in Canada has dropped by nearly 20 per cent. Despite these gains, though, the two biggest causes of avoidable food waste — excess inventory and date coding – are not easy to quell.

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This year, global tourism is on track to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Restless travelers are fed up waiting for COVID to disappear (it won’t); they’re spreading their wings and seeking adventures.
That’s great news to world leaders such as Francisco Betti, head of the Global Industries team at the World Economic Forum. At a forum meeting in May, he gushed about this encouraging milestone and its potential impact.

Farm labour, food production and immigration are inextricably joined, maybe more than ever. The North American agricultural sector is keenly aware of the critical, chronic labour shortage it’s facing. It’s making the problem as clear as possible to elected officials, along with an ultimatum: import labour, or import food.

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With increasingly fierce competition from nearly all corners of the planet, Canadian growers are anxious to have access to new technology. After all, technology uptake has long been one of their defining characteristics, and helps them compete against growers who enjoy larger economies of scale.

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When calamity arises somewhere in the world, it’s natural to wonder if the same thing could happen here…and if it did, what would we do?
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Jaws dropped earlier this year when export figures showed Brazil was becoming the global top exporter in grain and oilseeds, surpassing the U.S.in the likes of soy. And now, as 2024 unfolds, it’s clear there’s even more to come in other commodities from the South American powerhouse.
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Soil, once a supporting actor in agriculture, is finally finding its way to the spotlight. It hasn’t quite made it to the red carpet yet, but integrated soil health and management are well on the way to getting top billing, even outside of agricultural circles.
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U.S. apple production is expected to increase at least 10 per cent this year, thanks mainly to a bounce-back year in Washington. That’s making up for Michigan’s ho-hum production and declines in parts of the Midwest.

Jalisco, Mexico native Vivian Ibarra studied to be a dental hygienist – it’s steady work, decent pay and rife with opportunities to get in and out of the workforce to start a family. But upon graduation, she decided to forgo the dentist office. Instead, she returned home to help run the family berry farm…which these days, with the Mexican fruit sector in high gear, also means steady work and decent pay.

An Ontario-based ag strategist and communications specialist says the province’s food production and processing sector is well positioned to lead the agri-food agenda in this country. With wide consumer support for Canadian food, and the industry’s rapid adoption of modern technologies, it could potentially become the sector of the future.

Shortages of labour, packaging and even pallets will be among our worst 2021 memories. Canada’s food system remained resilient though, and kept food on the shelves. However, political leadership is needed to address the skyrocketing prices farmers and consumers are now facing. Photo: thegrower.org