Canadians across the country are celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday in unique ways. Some of you may have enjoyed a local Canadian wine, increased your maple syrup consumption or planned a special Canadian holiday, but how about planting a corn maze that showcases your pride in Canada from the sky? Kucera Farm Supply Limited, a family… Read more »
Category: Advocacy
Kelly Daynard named executive director of Farm & Food Care Ontario
Farm & Food Care Ontario has named its new executive director. Kelly Daynard, who had served as interim executive director since January 2017, has had the interim tag removed from her title. “The board of directors is unanimous in its decision to hire Kelly to lead Farm & Food Care Ontario. She has a strong… Read more »
Food Fear: A call for action
This editorial was written by Brenna Mahoney, director of communications and stakeholder relations for Cereals Canada. As I scrolled through my Facebook this morning, I came across a treasure trove of misinformation and fearmongering. Some of my friends writing in the comments how they agree that our food system is a big conspiracy and we… Read more »
Canola Eat Well celebrates Canada’s 150th birthday
“Canola is a great Canadian product. We are celebrating it!” This year marks Canada’s 150th anniversary, and at Manitoba’s CanolaPalooza, it was echoed throughout the day that canola has been an important part of Canadian agricultural history. “You are celebrating Canadian food and farmers when you buy canola products, and that’s 43,000 farmers across Canada,”… Read more »
Agvocate — do you embrace or avoid this term?
Agvocacy, agvocate, advocating for agriculture… As a farmer or rancher, do you like these words? Do you embrace these terms? Whether you embrace “agvocacy” or avoid it, what would the implications be in five years if the entire sector adopted your position? Producers tend to have strong positive and negative reactions to the activity of… Read more »
Fight for GMOs hits the big screen in ‘Food Evolution’
It’s easier to scare people than reassure them. That’s how environmental activist Mark Lynas frames the debate around the safety of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMOs have their supporters and their detractors, all fighting for or against the technology, and in the middle is a very confused and distrusting public. That’s the narrative director Scott… Read more »
Should politicians talk agriculture on the urban campaign trail?
City dwellers may not have much connection to the farm these days but there’s growing evidence that they value the agri-food industry’s ability to produce high-quality, safe food and create jobs. That’s the conclusion of an opinion poll commissioned by Grassroots Public Affairs. The survey of 676 residents in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) indicates… Read more »
Career opportunities are agriculture’s ticket back into the classroom
Consumers need to know where their food comes from. Why don’t we have more agriculture in the classroom? Those are recurring conversation themes and questions AgScape executive director Colleen Smith encounters every day. They’re challenges the Ontario agriculture industry has been grappling with since the Ag In The Classroom program was launched 25 years ago…. Read more »
Alberta Wheat Commission launches consumer marketing campaign
The Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) has launched a new consumer-focused marketing strategy, titled “Life’s Simple Ingredients.” The main goal of this project is to help consumers understand where their food comes from, and to shed a positive light on wheat so they can feel good about what they are eating. Victoria Russell, interim communications manager for… Read more »
The push to end supply management signals waning public support of farming
Over the last few months, the Conservative leadership contest has thrust a highly emotional issue for rural Canada into the spotlight— is supply management worth keeping or not? If you aren’t aware of the issue, one candidate, Maxime Bernier, is looking to eliminate the system. The rest of the field of candidates have said they… Read more »
Domino’s Pizza says it won’t be pushed around by animal activists
Farmers have gotten used to food companies bowing to the desires and demands of animal activists. It seems rare for a mainstream food company to stand behind the methods and practices of farmers and ranchers across the United States and Canada. Outside of McDonald’s Canada, the list seems quite short at times (and, yes, they’re moving… Read more »
Putting the squeeze on celebrity influence
How powerful is popular culture? It has tremendous influence on much of our daily lives, impacting everything from food choices and diets, to exercise, and what products we buy. Many of these choices our those we make to help our families lead healthy lives. Dr. Timothy Caulfield would like to like to see governments, regulators,… Read more »
Is Glyphosate the Next Honeybee?
When I’m knee-deep (ankle, for most of you) in discussions about challenges in agriculture, I often ask, “What’s the next bee?” I’m used to the funny looks I get, but what I mean, once I clarify, is what is the next issue in agriculture that will be debated and perhaps regulated not necessarily on the… Read more »
Overcoming Skewed Perceptions of Risk In What We Eat and Drink — Kevin Folta
88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes every year in the United States. Nobody has ever died because an ingredient in the food or drink they consumed was genetically modified. Call it ironic, distracting, or deceptive, marketers are all too aware we have a skewed perception of risk, especially when it comes to the stuff we… Read more »
Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan Seeks its Next Champion
Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan (FFC SK) has opened nominations for its Food & Farming Champion Award. This award, now in its second year, was designed to “shine a light on the people who work hard to promote Saskatchewan agriculture and help farmers build public trust in our food industry.” “We had tremendous success with the… Read more »