Change is hard. Governments have been too comfortable with the status quo and have lacked the motivation to deliver change for 25 years. Unfortunately, the world has not waited to change, so the question is whether Canadian ag can change too?
Tag Archives Tyler McCann
Agriculture’s policy risk clear as mud
The Canadian agriculture and food sector has many things going right. It is a major economic contributor, with products that have a lower environmental footprint at a time when Canada’s role in global food security is increasingly clear. Those fundamentals drive a lot of optimism in the sector. But — and it is a big […] Read more
Ag productivity hampered by policy: speakers
Panelists warn that if Canada doesn’t find ways to make itself attractive to agri-food businesses, other countries will
Glacier FarmMedia – Agriculture and the agri-food sector can be a powerful tool for Canada both economically and geopolitcally. That’s according to Jack Mintz, economist and president’s fellow at the University of Calgary’s Public Policy Institute. Agriculture is a high-productivity sector with great strategic opportunities on the world stage, he told attendees of the Protein […] Read more
Ag committee hears border measure concerns
REGINA — Farm organizations warn that Canada should be cautious about introducing carbon border adjustment mechanisms for agriculture. The mechanisms are a way to account for emissions contained in imported products. They aim to prevent carbon leakage by applying a levy to products if they don’t meet certain standards. The farm groups told the standing […] Read more
‘This isn’t going to go away’
WINNIPEG — Eight years ago, Sally Flis was working for the Fertilizer Institute in Washington, D.C. She was the director of agronomy and worked on grower adoption of 4R nutrient stewardship, which is right rate, right time, right place and right source when applying fertilizer. Related story: Corporate fertilizer plan pushes sustainability Then, Donald Trump […] Read more
New report highlights optimism, resignation in ag sector
Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute and Global Institute for Food Security find a lack of confidence in government
Glacier FarmMedia – Concerns about a troublesome policy and regulatory environment, extreme weather and trade barriers keep Canadian agriculture professionals awake at night. That’s according to a joint report from the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) and the University of Saskatchewan’s Global Institute for Food Security on risks in Canada’s agrifood system. The report provides […] Read more
Emissions focus worries ag sector
WINNIPEG — Forcing every federally supported agricultural research project to involve climate change mitigation threatens farmers’ vital interests, leading agriculture industry stakeholders say. “That lens is always ‘how is this going to help reduce emissions,’” noted CropLife Canada president Pierre Petelle in an interview during a farm meeting this winter. Other stories in this Special […] Read more
New focus called gov’t blind spot
Difficulties have been reported finding matching federal funding for research projects that address significant problems in crop production
OTTAWA — The federal government is like a cyclops with a giant blind spot when it comes to research funding, farm organizations, researchers and the agriculture industry have found. Agronomic crop research is a key way to improve agricultural sustainability and reduce carbon emissions but if such research isn’t related to climate change, the government […] Read more
What will it take to realize the promise of digital agriculture?
Canada is positioned to lead in this technology sector but is hampered by scattered funding and information sources
Digital agriculture can help Canada’s farms manage the increasing pressure to produce food, minimize environmental impact and provide a living for farmers, but only if scattered research dollars and talent are brought together. “We need to do a lot better if we want a food system that is more productive, that is more sustainable, and […] Read more
Online mapping tool offers land use information
The application developed for CAPI creates maps and datasets that can show change over time and help inform policy
REGINA — A new online tool allows users to examine agricultural land use across the country. Developed by ALCES for the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute, the Agriculture Web Mapping Application Tool offers maps and datasets about land use, management practices and agri-environmental indicators. Census, crop production and land use data can be viewed individually or […] Read more
