Reading Time: 2 minutes The federal government announced Thursday that, effective May 1, some sectors would be allowed no more than 20 per cent of their workforces to be made up of temporary foreign workers (TWFs) brought in via the low wage stream—down from 30 per cent since 2022.
Agriculture workers not mentioned in TFW rule changes
Food processing sees foreign worker limit reduced by ten per cent; construction, healthcare exempted
Protein sector faces labour crunch: report
Nearly two thirds of agri-food companies can't hire all the workers they need
Reading Time: 3 minutes Government, industry and educational institutes must act now to address the labour challenges confronting the emerging plant-based protein industry in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, according to a new report.
Feds plan to invest in processing projects
The money comes from a fund earmarked to help supply managed sectors hurt by trade deal
Reading Time: 2 minutes The federal government will invest $89 million in 49 processing projects in the supply managed sector. Agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay was in Ingleside, Ont., at the Lactalis Canada cheese plant to make the Feb. 5 announcement. The projects are through the six-year, $397.5-million Supply Management Processing Investment Fund, which is part of Ottawa's commitment to help sectors that lost market share due to trade agreements.
Feds earmark $400,000 to tofu production automation
Quebec tofu manufacturers have seen high demand in recent years
Reading Time: 2 minutes A Quebec tofu-maker has received a $400,000 federal loan to help automate its organic tofu production facility.
Italy moves to ban lab-grown food in drive to protect tradition
Ag lobby praises government move; angry reactions from food companies, animal rights groups
Reading Time: 2 minutes Rome | Reuters –– Italy’s government on Tuesday approved a bill banning the use of laboratory-produced food and animal feed as it aims to safeguard the country’s agri-food heritage, its agriculture minister told a news conference after a cabinet meeting. If the proposal is passed by parliament, Italian industry will not be allowed to produce […] Read more
U.S. to crack down on child labour amid massive uptick
Food processing plants among alleged offenders
Reading Time: 3 minutes Washington | Reuters — The Biden administration in the U.S. announced measures to crack down on child labour on Monday amid a steep rise in violations and investigative reports by Reuters and other news outlets on illegal employment of migrant minors in dangerous industries. U.S. officials said the Labor Department had seen a nearly 70 […] Read more
Finding the sweet spot for lupin
The pulse crop has agronomic merits but more production depends on increased product development and marketing
Reading Time: 4 minutes No, it’s not the wild lupin, the blue-flowered plant that’s a common sight in roadside ditches, particularly in the Maritimes — it’s inedible to livestock and humans. Rather, it’s the sweet white lupin and the blue lupin, and they have impressive credentials — high protein (35 to 38 per cent), 30 per cent dietary fibre, […] Read more
Developing a circular food economy
One out of six families near Guelph, Ontario, are food insecure. So why do we throw out over a third of the food that farmers produce?
Reading Time: 4 minutes Farmers are the original recyclers. Now a circular food economy project in Guelph is helping farmers and businesses collaborate to find even more ways to reduce waste. The goal of Our Food Future is to build a circular economy within the regional food supply chain, says Justine Dainard, project manager for the County of Wellington. […] Read more
B.C. to back Indigenous food system projects
New program taking applications starting Monday
Reading Time: 2 minutes A new British Columbia program will provide up to $80,000 each for projects in agriculture, food processing or other sectors to improve food security in that province’s Indigenous communities. The province on Wednesday rolled out a new Indigenous Food Systems and Agriculture Partnership Program, which is set up to take applications starting Monday (Sept. 26) […] Read more
Agropur backs major upgrades for Nova Scotia ice cream plant
Dairy co-op puts up $34M to 'redefine space' at Truro
Reading Time: 2 minutes Major dairy co-operative Agropur is putting up eight figures to upgrade an ice cream and frozen novelties plant it owns in Nova Scotia to handle new premium product lines. The co-operative said June 17 it will invest $34 million in the former Scotsburn plant at Truro, to “redefine the space within the plant (and) support […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
