Sylvain Charlebois

Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University.

Stories by Sylvain Charlebois

Photograph of fresh pickle chips.
op-ed, Opinion

How counter-tariff policy cans Canadian choice

Op-Ed: The cross-border travels of Bick’s pickles turn sour for consumers and producers

The unavailability of the storied Canadian pickle brand Bick’s, now processed and jarred in the U.S., shows how well-intentioned counter-tariff policy can turn sour on Canada’s consumers and cucumber growers.
Close-up of the hand of a senior man lifting some food off a plate on a fork.
Opinion

Strict plant-based diets don’t thrill Canadians

While some may view the decline in omnivorous eating as a sign of a plant-based shift in Canada, the data challenges this, showing a more fragmented and pragmatic shift in consumer behaviour, influenced by multiple factors.
The author writes that American economic coercion reveals the need for a significant shake-up of Canadian economic policy that will make the agricultural sector more competitive. | File photo
Opinion, Tariffs

Tariff threat requires major changes

Few political figures have shaken global markets like U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. His recent threats to impose sweeping tariffs — 25 per cent on Canadian and Mexican agricultural products and 10 per cent on Chinese goods — sent shockwaves through currency markets, sinking the Canadian dollar by a cent within seconds. These tariffs, framed as […] Read more
The author says that artificial intelligence is changing the food industry, and we need to pay attention. | Getty Images
Opinion

Are we losing control over our food?

Less than five percent of people really understand how our food goes from farm to table. A quick look at social media shows that misinformation spreads faster than scientific facts, and many people struggle to find reliable information. Whether it’s genetically modified organisms, organic food, buying local, climate change or corporate greed in agri-food, most […] Read more
The author writes that the federal government’s pandering to the domestic electric vehicle industry has sacrificed Canadian canola growers. | File photo
Opinion, Tariffs

Ottawa’s EV move abandons canola

Canada’s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles was a predictable move. Ottawa fully anticipated retaliation, which came swiftly as China announced an anti-dumping investigation into Canadian canola exports. While there is no evidence of dumping, the facts are largely irrelevant in this case. China will proceed with sanctions regardless of the explanations provided […] Read more
The author writes that an enfeebled media has failed to hold Danone accountable for the listeria outbreak in its plant-based milk products. | Reuters photo
Opinion

Where’s the listeria outbreak outrage?

The reaction to the recent Silk and Great Value plant-based dairy recall has been perplexing, to say the least, despite three confirmed deaths now linked to the listeria outbreak. The first fatality occurred back in August 2023, almost a year before the official recall on July 8, 2024. Yet, there has been little public explanation […] Read more
Stretchflation subtly deceives consumers by increasing product quantity a bit while raising prices even more. | File photo
Opinion

Stretchflation latest grocery bill bite

We are all familiar with “shrinkflation,” in which the quantity of a product decreases while the price remains the same, and “shelflation,” in which a product’s shelf life is compromised due to supply chain issues. These phenomena, which have been around for decades, contribute to the rising cost of groceries. However, a new trend called […] Read more
The author writes that the Grocer Code of Conduct will give food manufacturers and independent grocers a stronger voice, leading to greater product diversity for consumers. | Getty Images
Opinion

Grocer code of conduct has benefits

The recent announcement that American retail giants Walmart and Costco will be joining the Grocer Code of Conduct, alongside established Canadian players such as Loblaw, Sobeys and Metro, marks a critical step forward in the evolution of Canada’s grocery sector. This collective commitment by all major players is vital for the code’s effectiveness and represents […] Read more
The author writes that Canada seems enamoured with European-style, urban-centric agri-food policies, but the EU’s experience serves as a critical case study for this country on what not to do. | File photo
Opinion

Europe’s ag uprising seen as warning

European politics are notoriously intricate, and the recent EU elections highlighted a growing fatigue in the West toward urban-centric policies that impact agriculture. Following months of farmer protests across Europe, the Green Party, previously the fourth largest party, lost 19 seats and slipped to sixth position in the EU Parliament. This shift suggests that Europeans […] Read more
Despite his company’s financial success, Loblaw president Galen Weston has come under fire for a series of public relations missteps. | Reuters/ Blair Gable photo
Opinion

Grocery chain scores low on PR test

It’s fair to say that Loblaw is facing some of the most intense criticism of any grocer in the country, if not North America. Reporters from around the globe are now turning to Canadian experts to better understand what has been termed the “Loblaw phenomenon.” Despite Galen Weston’s disappearance from the airwaves almost a year […] Read more

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