The debate over future agricultural policy has focused too much on developing export markets and not enough on domestic food markets, says the National Farmers Union.
“There is almost no opportunity to discuss domestic food markets in these consultations,” said NFU board member Ann Slater of St. Mary’s, Ont.
The current round of consultations is part of the process that Agriculture Canada is conducting as it works on Growing Forward II, the agricultural policy framework for 2013-18.
The discussions include government, farmers and other agriculture stakeholders.
NFU women’s president Joan Brady of Ontario said half of Canada’s domestic production is consumed domestically and 75 percent of processing output is sold in the country.
Export and domestic markets require the same degree of attention from government and industry.
“We need a policy that puts domestic food first and addresses the critical loss of processing capacity in provinces like Ontario and the pathetic labelling we have for food grown in Canada,” said Slater.
