Articles Written by Lilian Schaer

With world populations on the rise, agriculture is expected to increase production to feed more hungry mouths. But some would argue that if less food was wasted, the need for more food would be a much less urgent need.

Business opp

Entrepreneurs see big bucks in the campaign to reduce food waste

By Lilian Schaer April 9, 2019

In recent years, farmers have been repeatedly urged to produce more food to feed a world population that is expected to hit almost 10 billion people by 2050. At the same time, food waste is a growing concern, leading some to argue there’s already enough food being produced in the world, and the real solution […] Read more

One Dutch pork producer is preparing to implement a blockchain initiative to make its production chain more transparent.

Guide Business, Marketing

Blockchain essentials

At last, here’s a clear explanation of what the blockchain fuss is all about, and why it may be such a winner for agriculture

By Lilian Schaer February 13, 2019

Traceability, food safety and fighting food fraud are issues of significant importance to food producers around the world. In fact, with supply chains getting more complex and ever-more global, and with consumers becoming increasingly both more curious and more wary about how and from where food gets to their plate, these issues may never have […] Read more

Jan VanderHout hosts a food tour at his greenhouses.

Guide Business, News

Canada’s food producers speaking up

Farmers on both sides of the Atlantic are scoring big wins with effective new consumer-outreach strategies

By Lilian Schaer January 21, 2019

When I was in the Netherlands this past summer, I had the chance to visit a hog farm. That in itself is not unusual, but what stayed with me were the blunt comments of the farmer who hosted us that day. “We need consumers to like us if we want them to buy our products,” […] Read more

Learning how to pick the best mushroom at the best time is helping get these robots ready for your farm.

Equipment, Guide Business

Artificial intelligence

… the brave new world of how you’ll farm, and eat

By Lilian Schaer December 27, 2018

It used to be that artificial intelligence was limited to the realms of science fiction and movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey or Terminator’s Skynet. Today, artificial intelligence is real — think Alexa or Google Home — and tools and applications putting it to use are emerging at a rapid clip in many fields, including […] Read more

Robotica’s indoor farming modules have style-conscious Italian consumers in mind. “Our vision is to grow food on every desk in every house,” its builders say.

Big Idea, Crops

Could the future of farming lie indoors?

Innovation: The scale seems much too small, say farmers. But that may be its greatest strength

By Lilian Schaer September 27, 2018

Outside of maybe the health care field, there are few sectors that are as innovative and changing as rapidly as agriculture. It’s what I’ll write about in this series of columns for Country Guide, because frankly, some of the technologies that are coming off the drawing boards are going to challenge the way we think […] Read more

While some protein substitutes may not be as adventurous looking as this tortilla filled with roasted grasshoppers, foods such as cricket powder and cultured proteins are gaining interest with investors and tempting consumer tastes.

Guide Business

Meat-less meat takes a big step closer to becoming mainstream

Terms like “cultured proteins” may not make anyone salivate the way a sizzling steak can, but that’s not stopping Canada’s grocery sector from getting ready for meat-case revolution

By Lilian Schaer May 17, 2018

Another new President’s Choice product made headlines recently. But who would have guessed what it was this time? Are you ready? It’s cricket powder, now part of Loblaw’s popular private label brand. Last year’s breakthrough seems so much more pedestrian by comparison. It was a vegetarian burger that bleeds like a real meat patty on […] Read more

Crops, Guide Business

Farm in South Africa?

The land is there, and so is the climate. But this may not be the land of milk and honey for you

By Lilian Schaer February 14, 2018

In many ways, South Africa is an agricultural success story. Its produce and its wines are enjoyed in many countries around the world, and the country isn’t plagued by famines or food shortages like others on the African continent. And yet beneath the apparent prosperity and stability, risks await farmers in a country still struggling […] Read more

For these workers inside a ZZ2 avocado pack house, South Africa’s strategy of building its economy on agriculture is providing stable employment and family incomes.

Fruit/Vegetables, Guide Business

Africa feeding Africa

While North America’s farmers pin their career hopes on the need to feed a hungry Africa, that continent’s farmers are making plans of their own

By Lilian Schaer August 15, 2017

A core belief in North American agriculture is that our farmers must produce ever more food if we are to have any hope of feeding the world, particularly areas like Africa where the population is growing so rapidly. The numbers are indeed staggering. According to the Population Reference Bureau, Africa’s population will hit 2.5 billion […] Read more

These combine harvesters are part of the fleet of farm equipment at Jianhu Lantian Agricultural Machinery Co-operative, established in 2007 near Yancheng in Jiangsu Province.

Guide Business, Machinery

China powers up

The world’s most populous country gets serious about farm machinery

By Lilian Schaer March 24, 2017

Like so much of China, the country’s agriculture is in a state of transition. While some sectors of the industry are barreling full speed into mechanization, with impressive rates of technology adoption to match the latest in global production standards, the road to modernizing agricultural production isn’t always a smooth one. China is the world’s […] Read more

The traditional Chinese diet is becoming more westernized, changing consumer food demands.

Guide Business

China wants more

This time, it’s China’s demand for safe, high-quality foods that is exploding

By Lilian Schaer February 28, 2017

For almost any marketer or producer of just about anything, the Chinese market is one they’re eager to get into. The world’s most populous country boasts a potential 1.4 billion customers, and both its middle class and their purchasing power are on the rise. Research by consultants McKinsey & Co. suggests that by 2022, more […] Read more

Dutch distributor buys Manitoba Claas dealerships

Cash wheat: Bids get support from U.S. gains

Ample world malt barley supply to limit export prices

GFM Network News