Reading Time: 3 minutes Arlene Dickinson says Canada must take up decades-old suggestions to support the agriculture and food sectors

Arlene Dickinson says recent trip to Asia opened her eyes to new trade opportunities

CFIA raw poultry policy to tighten food safety
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canadian poultry slaughterhouses will have to test carcasses for pathogens before chilling when the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s new pre-chill policy comes into force Dec. 1, 2025.

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
Reading Time: 3 minutes 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.

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
Reading Time: 3 minutes 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
Reading Time: 4 minutes 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
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.

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.

New report shows poultry sector burdened by expectations
Simpson Centre paper calls for increased research, financial sustainability for sector
Reading Time: 3 minutes 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

Advisory council named to steer national Food Policy
Reading Time: 2 minutes 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

Federal food policy aims to lift local and Canadian-grown products
Reading Time: 2 minutes 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