When I am completely overwhelmed with the task at hand (which is often), I sit down, make a to-do list, and break the task down into smaller, more achievable steps. I prioritize the most pressing issue first, or the one that simply must happen before the other pieces can fall into place. My hope, in… Read more »
Category: Food
Government releases findings of National Food Policy consultation
Close to 45,000 people responded to an online survey and hundreds of people attended in-person meetings last year to weigh in on the topic of a national food policy for Canada. The government has compiled that feedback into a report, entitled “What we heard report – A Food Policy for Canada,” which was released this week…. Read more »
Food fights likely to just get more contentious
For much of our human history, we’ve toiled to simply meet our most basic of human needs — having enough to eat to survive and raise a family. It’s only in recent history, really, that the bulk of North America has moved up from the basics to the privilege of abundant food choices. Last week… Read more »
McDonald’s serves up its first sustainably-raised Mighty Angus burgers
As promised earlier this summer, McDonald’s Canada has officially rolled out its Mighty Angus burger line made with Canadian verified sustainably-raised beef. Complete with a new advertising campaign and sporting the Canadian Roundtable on Sustainable Beef (CRSB) Certified logo, McDonald’s Mighty Angus line is the first major product offering with a completely verified beef supply… Read more »
Simplot acquires access to CRISPR-Cas9 gene technology
One of the largest potato processors in North America has acquired access to new gene-editing technology. J.R. Simplot company has secured a deal with Corteva Agriscience (the agriculture division of DowDuPont), the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard for the license of CRISPR-Cas9, along with other gene-editing tools. Along with potatos, Simplot produces a full… Read more »
“Before the Plate” food documentary debuts this weekend in Toronto
Dylan Sher grew up in the city but he has always had an interest in farming. Sher’s interest in farming eventually brought him to the University of Guelph, where he studied agricultural business. While he was studying, he started to think about how people could be brought closer to the farmers that supply their food…. Read more »
AGT Food and Ingredients announces bid to privatize
In a move some might already thought was coming, Saskatchewan-based AGT Food and Ingredients Inc announced Thursday it would be seeking privatization. The pulse processing and export company announced the move to go private this morning, but did not offer a clear indication as to when the privatization would actually take place. According to a… Read more »
EU’s top court rules new biotech techniques are GMO
A ruling by the European Union’s (EU) top court states that food produced by a series of new biotechnology breeding techniques, such as CRISPR, should be considered genetically modified organisms (GMO). This ruling means the specific food or food ingredient resulting from these gene-editing techniques falls under the EU’s strict regulations and restrictions on GMO. Any… Read more »
McDonald’s Canada to start serving beef from ‘certified sustainable’ farms and ranches
McDonald’s Canada says it will soon become the first company in Canada to serve Canadian beef from farms and ranches that are “certified sustainable.” The restaurant chain will introduce the sustainability claim with its Angus burger lineup, and is expecting to sell more than 20 million Angus burgers sourced according to these standards in the… Read more »
A&W to introduce plant-based burger across Canada
A&W has announced plans to be the first national burger chain in Canada to add a plant-based burger to its menu. The restaurant chain says it will offer “The Beyond Meat Burger” at all its restaurants across Canada starting July 9th. “We are a burger loving company with a lot of firsts, but this is… Read more »
Buy Canadian? Great idea, but don’t forget about cupboard economics
Every now and then, Canadians will take a stand against the U.S. by choosing Canadian items over American ones at the grocery store. Canadians are generally loyal to Canadian food products, unless they cost more — and most often, they do. In a nutshell, here is what happened following the G7 Summit: Trudeau plays nice… Read more »
Have your say about food waste from the farm
Food waste has become the poster child for inefficiency in agri-food. But how much are farmers contributing to the problem…or to the solution? That’s what a study led by Second Harvest and Value Chain Management International (VCMI) is trying to find out, in what they say is the world’s first comprehensive look at food loss… Read more »
Getting involved in the conversation with Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan
Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan was launched in 2015 to foster conversations with people in Saskatchewan about food and farming. We recently had a chance to catch up with Clint Monchuk, Executive Director with Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan (FFCS). Farm and Food Care had its origins in the Food and Animal Council (FAC). When… Read more »
Olymel announces deal to buy Pinty’s Delicious Foods
Quebec-based pork and poultry processor Olymel has announced a deal to acquire all the shares in Pinty’s Delicious Foods, a poultry processing company in Ontario that specializes in chicken wings, boneless wings, fillets and fully cooked food products. Pinty’s operates three processing facilities, in Port Colborne, Paris, and Oakville, with headquarters in Burlington. The company… Read more »
New food safety regulations finalized for cross-border sales
What’s new The Safe Food for Canadians Act was drafted in 2012 and on Wednesday, after years of industry consultation and review, the regulations were finalized. The federal government has consolidated 14 different food regulations into one under published earlier this week in Canada Gazette, Part II. The new rules include licensing and traceability requirements for… Read more »