The news Parliamentary secretary Jean-Claude Poissant, on behalf of Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay, was in Gatineau, Quebec, this week to announce funding for two projects focused on food safety and public trust in Canada’s food system. Announced at the Food Safety Forum, held following the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity’s Public Trust Summit,… Read more »
Category: Food
Getting a jump on food loss and waste at processing
Much of what we produce in agriculture ends up wasted, not eaten. While food waste in your own home may be the first thing you think of, much of food loss and waste happens at processing. Speaking this week at the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI) Public Trust Summit, Cher Mereweather, executive director of… Read more »
Feds announce more than $150 million for Protein Industries Canada Supercluster
The federal government has announced close to $153 million for support of the Protein Industries Canada (PIC) Supercluster. The funding will be matched dollar for dollar by the private sector. The funds will help the group – comprised of businesses, post-secondary institutions, and non-profit organizations – move the PIC Supercluster forward. The purpose of the supercluster is… Read more »
Consumers, farmers, and industry all benefit from a trusted regulatory system
Regulations are often disliked by by both producers and consumers. Producers think there is too much red tape and consumers think regulators are too accommodating to business. But when the regulatory system works – when it trusted and predictable – everyone benefits. The recent Canola Discovery Forum at Banff, Alta., brought together a host of… Read more »
Latest public trust survey suggests animal welfare concerns on the rise
The Canadian Centre for Food Integrity rolls out its latest public trust data this week in conjunction with its third annual Public Trust Summit, being held at Gatineau, Quebec. The centre conducted two surveys this past year. One was a continuation of its public trust barometer, and the other a Canada-U.S. study which focused on three… Read more »
Canada commits to double agriculture trade to China by 2025
The federal government has made it very clear that it expects Canadian agriculture to grow, scale-up, and increase production — for both domestic and international markets. China is a key destination for several Canadian commodities, and a trade mission this week is yielding some very positive results. Last week, Canada sent four high-level ministers to… Read more »
Film series hopes to demystify today’s agriculture
There was a time that farming was not that mysterious a process. Most farming practices were the same from generation to generation, and the majority of people were involved in agriculture in some way themselves. That has all changed now, and some in the industry feel there is now a need to ‘demystify’ what agriculture… Read more »
Rail line in Churchill to fully open by end of the month
Wednesday evening was exciting for more than just Halloween in the town of Churchill, Manitoba. For the first time in more than a year residents heard a train whistle coming from the Hudson Bay Rail Line. The rail line was badly damaged by flooding in the spring of 2017 and, with no year-round roads into… Read more »
How willing are Canadians to trade meat for plant-based protein?
Many of us are full-fledged carnivores, but fewer and fewer Canadians are cutting into a barbecued steak. That’s the conclusion of a new Dalhousie University study looking at Canadian attitudes toward plant-based protein alternatives. According to the study, 6.4 million Canadians say they are limiting the amount of meat they eat, and the number will likely… Read more »
Inaugural meeting of Alberta’s Local Food Council sets path forward
If you’ve heard or seen the term “buy local” get ready to see and hear it a bit more in Wild Rose Country. Back in May of this year, Bill 7 was passed in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The bill’s purpose is to encourage the development and success of a local food sector throughout… Read more »
Kingston baby formula plant moving ahead “on schedule”
Reports last week that Kingston’s Canada Royal Milk plant, owned by Chinese company Feihe International, might be in jeopardy following the signing of USMCA, were alarming and confusing, says the head of Kingtson’s economic development corporation. “There is no immediate impact on Feihe Canada Royal Milk’s investment in Kingston or the forecasted job creation,” says Donna… Read more »
A mobile parlour and traveling cows — cheese making in the Swiss Alps
Seasonal milking sure isn’t common in Canada, and it’s limited in the United States, but in some European countries, it’s not just common, it’s a key part of their culture. Marion Studhalter, who normally calls Ontario home, spent the summer making cheese in the Alps. The production system she was a part of is rather… Read more »
Non-hybrids with hybrid vigour just one goal of biotech research
The joke in Saskatoon is that you come for the weather, but stay because you can’t get a flight out. Kidding aside, Saskatoon is actually a hub of biotech research and development with findings and products with the potential to benefit farmers all over the world. Because of this, Global Biotech Week is an event… Read more »
An anthem for the dairy farmer in your life
Let’s face it — when it comes to food marketing and advertising, companies get it so very wrong most of the time. Every now and again, though, companies get it so very right. In case you haven’t seen it, American dairy co-op Land O’Lakes recently released its fresh take on the Old McDonald nursery rhyme,… Read more »
Farm visit connects culinary art students to their food
What do you do when two busloads of students come to your farm? Well, of course you welcome them, show them around, and feed them lunch. On a rainy day during harvest, students from Saskatchewan Polytechnic came out to the farm of Doyle and Val Wiebe near Langham. All of the farm equipment was lined… Read more »