COP26 big moment for Canada to act on empowering food producers in face of climate crisis
At a time when the world is facing two urgent crises—pandemic and planetary—the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference is a prime opportunity for Canada to show its seriousness in tackling both emergencies. At COP26, to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12, Canada should demonstrate its support for more climate resilient food systems. Building resilient food systems will allow small-scale food producers to cope with shocks, adapt to […]
Budget 2021 boosts farmers tackling climate change
Like most Canadian farmers, I’ve experienced firsthand the disruptions that COVID-19 has brought to our sector, from labour shortages and supply chain problems to wild swings in market demand. This past year has been a challenge, but as farmers we are already dealing with a much bigger threat to agriculture and our livelihoods: climate change. […]
Urging Canada to do its fair share for international climate finance
“How can I use farming to get out of my desperation?” asks Mehsane Sahle, a small-scale farmer in the Benishangul-Gumuz region of Ethiopia. A mother of three in her late 50s, Mehsane’s livelihood depends on the crops and livestock she can raise on her small plot of land, but with poor soil, erratic rainfall, and […]
Harnessing the power of soil to help farmers build climate resilience
Canadian agriculture is an economic powerhouse, contributing $143-billion to Canada’s economy in 2018 and supporting one-in-eight jobs. It is also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In recent years, farmers’ yields have at times been reduced as much as 50 per cent in some regions as a result of extreme flooding, drought, and […]
Here’s the hard-to-swallow truth about hunger
Community, camaraderie, and “care-mongering”– an almost obsessive tendency toward being helpful— were emblematic of Canada’s first pandemic wave. We were all in this together. The fear and anxiety felt by everyone was powerfully unifying. Now, as the third wave drags on, our spirits have been dulled by the painful truth of structural and unjust inequality. […]
In the shadow of COVID-19, the spectre of famine
The COVID-19 pandemic is monopolizing our attention. We are watching and suffering its consequences, first at home. Meanwhile, abroad, it has joined with other plagues to fuel a crisis that is escaping our attention. The kind of crisis that, because it unfolds in slow motion instead of exploding suddenly, flies under the radar: famine. Last […]
Ready to build back better, but need a hand
Build Back Better. It’s a catchy slogan—and a good idea. Throughout the pandemic, the Canadian agriculture and food industry has shown it is more than up to the task. But without the right practices, policies, and infrastructure in place, it is becoming increasingly clear Canada will not be able to fully realize its potential to […]
Swift federal action needed to close the agri-food sector’s digital divide
The changes facing Canadian society in this historic era cannot be understated. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced widespread adoption of technology to keep our economy moving and has increased Canadians’ appreciation for sectors, services, and workers that are deemed essential. But while most Canadians have increased their reliance on technology to stay connected, reliable high-speed […]
The path to food security in Canada
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought up concerns about food insecurity for many Canadians: according to a March 2020 poll conducted by Abacus Data, two-thirds of Canadians worried that COVID-19 would impact the price and availability of food and household goods. As vaccines are approved and rolled out, we can hope that the pandemic’s […]
COVID crisis or change point: how agriculture can lead out of pandemic recession
Canada’s Conservatives understand the many challenges that the agricultural sector has faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, Canadian farmers have remained resilient and continue to put world-class food on our tables to feed our families. John F. Kennedy famously pointed to the Chinese characters for “crisis” as signifying both danger and opportunity. However, […]
