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National school food program announced

Federal government says program aims to start with 2024/25 school year

Reading Time: 2 minutes 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.



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Dairy bird flu cases creep closer to Canada

Michigan and Idaho become fourth and fifth state to confirm virus in dairy cattle

Reading Time: 2 minutes Idaho has become the newest U.S. states to identify highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a dairy cattle operation, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (IDSA) confirmed March 30.



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Canadian Meat Council decries TFW changes

Industry group says ending special measures for sector is 'premature'

Reading Time: 2 minutes Incoming changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program will add to the sector's already significant labour challenges, the Canadian Meat Council says.

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EU envoys strike new deal on Ukraine food imports

Reading Time: 2 minutes Ambassadors from European Union countries reached a revised deal on Wednesday to extend tariff-free food imports from Ukraine - with restrictions - after some states complained the original agreement risked destabilizing the bloc's agricultural markets.



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Mexico delays glyphosate ban as substitute sought

Ban part of controversial plan to reduce reliance on GMO corn for human consumption

Reading Time: 2 minutes Mexico said it would delay a ban on the use of the herbicide glyphosate after it was unable to identify a substitute, rolling back a commitment that is part of a larger plan to reduce consumption of genetically-modified corn.


Scenic autumn view of the rural landscape, orchards, vineyards, and wineries of Oliver located in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Photo: laughingmango/iStock/Getty Images Plus

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

Reading Time: 2 minutes 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.