Tag Archives: farming

Quebec’s Agrifood Strategy: A National Lesson in Food Security

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Quebec has quietly become a national leader in agrifood planning and food security. At a time when global food systems are increasingly fragile, the province offers a clear and pragmatic model for how public policy, local investment, and social equity can combine to build a more resilient, sustainable food system. The rest of Canada would do well to take note.

Central to Quebec’s approach is its comprehensive provincial framework, Politique bioalimentaire 2018–2025: Alimenter notre monde. This policy articulates a long-term vision for food sovereignty and ecological stewardship. It promotes value-added processing, regional production, and stronger local supply chains. What sets Quebec apart is not simply the breadth of the strategy, but the coordination behind it. Provincial and federal funds are deployed in tandem, targeting greenhouse expansion, food transformation infrastructure, agri-environmental practices, and innovation. In 2023, Quebec committed $175 million toward increasing regional food self-sufficiency, a move that signaled a shift away from dependence on volatile global supply chains.

This funding strategy has been reinforced by the Canada–Quebec Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership agreement, which committed $955 million over five years to support producers across the province. The agreement includes enhanced compensation under AgriStability, infrastructure renewal programs, and expanded support for environmental and climate-smart practices. With a 25 percent increase over the previous five-year framework, this is one of the most ambitious agrifood investments in the country.

Quebec’s focus on food processing has also paid dividends. In Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, for example, Céréales Normandin received over $3.5 million in combined provincial and federal support to expand its grain-processing capacity. By transforming local cereals into flour, semolina, and plant-based protein concentrates, the facility strengthens Quebec’s ability to retain value within the province. It also reduces dependency on long-haul transportation and foreign inputs. This kind of investment represents a structural shift toward field-to-fork sovereignty.

But production and processing are only part of the story. Quebec integrates food security into its broader public health and education agenda. The province supports farm-to-school programs that connect children directly with local farms, using classroom engagement and institutional procurement to build food literacy and sustainable eating habits. Programs like AgrÉcoles and Farm to School Québec are designed not as symbolic gestures, but as long-term educational investments. They are complemented by robust health policy measures, including proposed front-of-package nutrition labels and consideration of a sugary drinks tax. While other provinces rely on voluntary industry commitments, Quebec has shown a willingness to legislate for public health.

Climate adaptation is another defining element. Quebec has made significant advances in controlled-environment agriculture, particularly hydro-powered greenhouses. These facilities now supply roughly half of the province’s fruits and vegetables year-round. This model aligns well with Quebec’s decarbonization goals and offers a buffer against supply chain disruptions caused by weather, wildfires, or border issues. The greenhouse sector also creates jobs in rural regions, adding social and economic depth to what might otherwise be seen as technical infrastructure.

Quebec’s broader social policy reinforces its food security efforts. The province maintains Canada’s most generous child benefits and has indexed income supports to inflation, resulting in lower levels of food insecurity compared to most other provinces. By recognizing that hunger is not just a supply issue but a matter of income and social policy, Quebec links its agrifood system to social resilience. This integrated approach provides not only food, but dignity and stability.

Cultural identity plays a role as well. Quebec has long embraced supply management in sectors like dairy and maple syrup, not as a form of protectionism, but as a tool for supporting regional producers and maintaining quality standards. This model may not translate directly across all of Canada, but it offers a reminder that local economies thrive when policy reflects place-based values.

Perhaps the most compelling lesson from Quebec is its refusal to silo food policy. Instead, it has created a system where agriculture, health, education, environment, and social equity intersect. The result is not just a stronger food system, but a stronger society. In an era of climate disruption, geopolitical instability, and growing inequality, Quebec is showing how to build something that is local, resilient, and future-ready.

Canada as a whole will face increasing pressure in the years ahead to secure its food systems. If policy-makers are serious about ensuring affordability, sustainability, and sovereignty, they would be wise to study what Quebec has already built.

Sources
• Government of Canada. “Canada and Quebec sign a new $955 million agreement over five years to support Quebec’s agricultural sector.” March 2023. https://www.canada.ca/en/agriculture-agri-food/news/2023/03/canada-and-quebec-sign-a-new-955-million-agreement-over-5-years-to-support-quebecs-agricultural-sector.html
• Government of Canada. “Over $3.5 million for Céréales Normandin to expand its product range.” March 2024. https://www.canada.ca/en/economic-development-quebec-regions/news/2024/03/increasing-quebecs-food-selfsufficiency-over-35m-for-cereales-normandin-to-expand-its-product-range.html
• Equiterre. “Farm to School Québec.” https://www.equiterre.org/en/articles/project-local-food-procurement-farm-to-school-quebec
• The 14. “Reinforcing policies to improve Quebec’s food supply.” https://the-14.com/reinforcing-policies-to-improve-quebecs-food-supply
• West Quebec Post. “Quebec to invest $175 million over five years to increase food self-sufficiency.” https://www.westquebecpost.com/quebec-to-invest-175-million-over-five-years-to-increase-food-self-sufficiency

The Global Food Supply Chain Is Shifting – And Canada Must Be Ready

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The global food supply chain is undergoing a period of extraordinary change, driven by a volatile blend of climate instability, geopolitical realignment, digital transformation, and shifting consumer expectations. For Canada, a country both reliant on agricultural exports and dependent on imports to feed its population, these changes represent both a serious threat and a historic opportunity.

The most immediate and destabilizing force is climate change. Across the globe, extreme weather events are disrupting food production and transportation infrastructure. Prolonged droughts in the United States and Brazil, floods in South Asia, and wildfires across the Mediterranean have all contributed to rising food prices and shortages of staple goods. In 2024 and early 2025, the prices of cocoa, coffee, and vegetable oils more than doubled in global markets, illustrating how climate-linked shocks in one region can rapidly ripple across supply networks. Analysts expect this volatility to become the new normal, not an exception.

Geopolitical tensions are compounding these risks. The ongoing consequences of the Russia–Ukraine war continue to affect global grain and seed oil availability, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. Meanwhile, China’s imposition of new tariffs on Canadian agricultural products – part of a tit-for-tat trade war triggered by Canadian duties on Chinese electric vehicles and steel, has jeopardized billions in exports. Canadian pork and canola producers are among the hardest hit. In a trade landscape increasingly shaped by protectionism, food is becoming both a diplomatic tool and a strategic vulnerability.

At the same time, the global food system is entering a period of accelerated digitalization. Technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and real-time logistics platforms are now being deployed to manage traceability, reduce waste, and predict bottlenecks. From major logistics hubs in Rotterdam and Singapore to field trials in Alberta and Manitoba, data is becoming as essential as soil and seed. For Canada, which has long relied on traditional supply chain models and seasonal rhythms, there is growing pressure to integrate these tools more aggressively.

This digital shift is mirrored by a rising emphasis on sustainability. Multinational retailers and food companies are increasingly turning to regenerative agriculture and eco-friendly logistics. In North America, McDonald’s has begun pilot programs supporting rotational grazing and soil health restoration across its supply network, including with Canadian producers. Meanwhile, packaging waste, energy usage, and transportation emissions are now key metrics for investors, regulators, and consumers alike.

All of these shifts have profound implications for Canada’s agri-food sector. In the face of increasingly fragile international supply routes, there is a renewed focus on domestic resilience. A recent report from KPMG Canada recommends a more self-sufficient food system built around regional logistics hubs, shared storage infrastructure, and enhanced collaboration between producers, distributors, and retailers. The goal is not isolationism, but redundancy – a system better able to absorb shocks without collapsing.

This necessity for resilience also aligns with an emerging opportunity. As supply routes between Asia and the United States become less predictable, Canadian ports, particularly in British Columbia and Atlantic Canada, stand to gain. Shipping rerouted to avoid U.S. tariffs or congestion may open new pathways for Canadian grain, seafood, and value-added agri-food exports. However, capitalizing on this requires investment in cold chain logistics, port capacity, and integrated digital customs processes.

There is also a growing consensus that Canada must move up the value chain. For too long, the country has exported raw commodities – wheat, canola, pulses, only to buy back processed goods at higher prices. In a more competitive and unstable global market, the future lies in branding, processing, and differentiated products. Whether it is high-protein pasta made from prairie durum or oat beverages from Manitoba, value-added agri-food is increasingly seen as the path to long-term competitiveness and economic security.

Another critical challenge is food waste. Canada loses an estimated 35 million tonnes of food annually, roughly 58 percent of all produced, with a combined value of $21 billion. Much of this is the result of poor cold chain management, especially in the face of climate disruption. Heatwaves and floods damage infrastructure, interrupt power supply, and compromise the safety of perishable goods. Strengthening the cold chain, from rural harvest sites to urban distribution centres, will be essential in adapting to a warming climate and preventing unnecessary losses.

At the consumer level, expectations are changing quickly. Demand for traceable, ethically produced, and environmentally sustainable food is no longer limited to niche markets. From compostable packaging to plant-based proteins, Canadian shoppers are pushing producers and retailers to adopt new standards. In response, supply chain managers are planning major shifts toward sustainable logistics, predictive inventory systems, and just-in-time models that minimize waste and maximize transparency.

Taken together, these global supply chain shifts mark a turning point. Canada can either cling to legacy systems and find itself squeezed by rising volatility, or it can invest boldly in infrastructure, innovation, and regional self-sufficiency. The case for action is clear. A resilient, technologically advanced, and sustainable food system is not only possible, it is becoming necessary for the country’s economic and social well-being.

Sources:
• KPMG Canada, Building a More Resilient Food System in Canada (June 2025): https://kpmg.com/ca/en/home/insights/2025/06/building-a-more-resilient-food-system-in-canada.html
• The Guardian, “Extreme Weather to Cause Further Food Price Volatility,” (Feb 2025): https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/15/extreme-weather-likely-to-cause-further-food-price-volatility-analysts-say
• Business Insider, “Fresh Chinese Tariffs on Canadian Agricultural Products,” (Mar 2025): https://www.businessinsider.com/fresh-chinese-tariffs-canada-open-new-front-trade-war-2025-3
• Reuters, “McDonald’s Shifts to Regenerative Agriculture,” (Apr 2025): https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/land-use-biodiversity/no-lettuce-no-big-mac-why-beth-hart-is-steering-mcdonalds-towards-regenerative-2025-04-14
• National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health, Climate Change Impacts on Canada’s Food Cold Chain: https://ncceh.ca/resources/evidence-reviews/climate-change-impacts-canadas-food-supply-cold-chain
• Eastern College, “Supply Chain Trends in 2025”: https://easterncollege.ca/blog/supply-chain-trends-in-2025-what-canada-needs-to-know

Can Food Belts Enhance Ontario’s Food Security Future?

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Ontario is facing an escalating food security crisis, with food banks reporting unprecedented demand and rural communities increasingly unable to afford basic nutrition. In response, a new policy proposal is gaining traction among local leaders and agricultural advocates: the creation of provincially designated “food belts” to permanently protect farmland and strengthen local food systems.

Recent data paint a sobering picture. More than one million Ontarians accessed food banks between April 2023 and March 2024, a 25% increase over the previous year and nearly double the figures from four years prior. According to Feed Ontario’s 2024 Hunger Report, food bank use has surged across every region, including traditionally self-sufficient rural areas like Grey-Bruce, where the cost of a nutritious food basket consumes over 40% of a family’s income on Ontario Works. In Northumberland County, the monthly shortfall between assistance levels and basic expenses surpasses $1,300 even before rent is considered.

Amid this growing crisis, Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner has introduced the concept of food belts, designated agricultural zones protected from development, designed to ensure ongoing food production close to population centres. The idea has received support from municipal officials, including Markham and Waterloo Region councillors, who are increasingly alarmed by the pace at which farmland is being lost to suburban sprawl.

Between 2016 and 2021, Ontario lost over 620,000 acres of farmland, according to the 2021 Census of Agriculture. That represents more than 1,200 farms, not phased out due to productivity or retirement, but lost to development and land speculation. Once prime agricultural land is paved over, it is virtually impossible to restore, raising serious concerns about the province’s long-term food capacity.

In Waterloo Region, where one in eight households now reports food insecurity, the link between land use and hunger is becoming clearer. Eleven percent of those turning to food banks come from households with at least one working adult, reflecting broader structural challenges beyond poverty alone. At the same time, 50% of food banks have been forced to reduce services, while 40% have cut back on the amount of food distributed, according to Feed Ontario.

Food belts are proposed as a systemic solution. Modeled in part on the province’s existing Greenbelt, food belts would differ by prioritizing food production rather than simply preserving green space. Enabling legislation, potentially through amendments to Ontario’s Planning Act or the Provincial Policy Statement, would establish a policy framework, followed by municipal implementation through Official Plans and comprehensive land-use reviews.

The food belt model would involve identifying prime agricultural lands for protection, particularly in high-growth regions such as the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Within these zones, land use would be restricted to agricultural and food-related purposes, including greenhouses, food processing, and housing for seasonal farm workers. Non-agricultural development would be prohibited or tightly regulated.

To support farmers within the belts, advocates suggest a suite of provincial incentives. These could include property tax relief, grants for sustainable practices, support for young and new farmers, and investment in local food infrastructure such as processing facilities and distribution hubs. The intent is to foster both agricultural stability and economic opportunity in rural areas.

Crucially, food belts would not operate in isolation. Stakeholder engagement would be central to their design and implementation, involving farmers, Indigenous communities, conservationists, and municipal planners. A provincial oversight body could monitor compliance, enforce regulations, and report on agricultural output and environmental indicators within the belts.

Beyond farmland protection, proponents argue that food belts represent a strategic investment in Ontario’s long-term food resilience. By shortening supply chains, reducing reliance on imported goods, and anchoring food production within commuting distance of major urban centres, food belts could help the province navigate future disruptions caused by climate change, inflation, and geopolitical instability.

“Simply put, we cannot eat subdivisions,” Schreiner has said, warning that continued inaction could erode Ontario’s ability to feed itself. The Green Party’s position echoes findings from agricultural policy experts who have long cautioned that land-use planning must be treated as a food security issue, not just an environmental or economic concern.

As of 2024, Ontario’s policy landscape lacks a formal mechanism to establish food belts, though growing public and political interest may push the province to act. For now, the concept remains in the realm of advocacy and municipal discussion, but pressure is mounting.

With food insecurity no longer confined to urban poverty and food banks unable to keep pace, the proposal for food belts offers a rare convergence of long-term strategy and immediate relevance. Whether Queen’s Park chooses to seize the moment remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that Ontario’s food future will depend not only on how the land is farmed, but on whether that land remains farmland at all.

Sources
• CBC News: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/foodbelt-reaction-schreiner-markham-councillors-1.7536995
• Feed Ontario Hunger Report 2024: https://feedontario.ca/research/hunger-report-2024
• Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture 2021: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220511/dq220511b-eng.htm
• Greenbelt Act, 2005: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/05g01
• Grey Bruce Public Health: https://www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca
• HKPR Health Unit (Northumberland): https://www.hkpr.on.ca

Analyzing Canada’s Supply Management System Amidst USMCA Renegotiations

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With Donald Trump hinting at renegotiating the USMCA, the Bloc Québécois (BQ)’s preemptive demand to shield Canada’s supply-managed agricultural sectors seems like a calculated play. By insisting on taking these industries off the negotiating table, the BQ underscores the strategic importance of supply management—not just as economic protectionism, but as a cornerstone of national food security, quality, and safety.

At its core, supply management is more than a regulatory framework; it’s a defense mechanism against market forces that could devastate domestic agriculture. Take Wisconsin, for example: its dairy production alone eclipses Canada’s entire industry and could flood the Canadian market with cheaper, lower-standard products. This wouldn’t just undercut prices; it could dismantle the domestic sector entirely. Ironically, Wisconsin’s overproduction creates its own woes, driving down prices, shrinking herd sizes, and perpetuating a vicious cycle of instability.

Such risks aren’t hypothetical. In Latin America, we’ve seen nations struggle as free-market producers prioritize export profits over feeding local populations. Meanwhile, neighboring countries flooding markets with cheap imports have obliterated subsistence farming. The BQ isn’t just safeguarding Quebec’s dairy industry but advocating for all “feather” producers—chicken, turkey, ducks, and eggs. So, how does Canada’s supply management system stack up?

The Case for Supply Management
Supply management ensures Canadian farmers enjoy stable, predictable incomes, shielding them from global market volatility. This financial security allows small family farms to invest confidently, fostering sustainability. For consumers, it means consistent prices for essentials like milk and eggs, steering clear of drastic price swings.

Canada’s system enforces stringent safety and environmental standards, ensuring high-quality products. By prioritizing local production, it strengthens food security, keeping supply chains domestic and reliable. The system also promotes production diversity, mitigating risks like disease outbreaks in large industrial operations.

By controlling production, supply management prevents market gluts that can tank prices. This is a lifeline for small and medium farms, which form the backbone of rural economies. Without these protections, small farms might collapse under pressure from industrialized mega-farms or cheap imports, eroding Canada’s agricultural landscape.

The Critiques of Supply Management
The most frequent criticism is higher prices. Supply management fixes prices above global market levels, meaning Canadians pay more for staples like dairy and eggs. These costs hit low-income households hardest, intensifying inequality in access to basic foods.

Canada’s import controls complicate international trade negotiations. Concessions made during CETA and USMCA talks—allowing limited foreign access to Canadian dairy markets—highlight the friction. These restrictions may limit Canada’s leverage in future trade deals, potentially hindering economic growth.

Critics argue that supply management’s guaranteed income structure discourages competition and innovation. Farmers have little incentive to improve efficiency or diversify, unlike in competitive markets where survival hinges on adaptability. This lack of dynamism could leave Canadian agriculture trailing behind global advancements.

Balancing Tradition and Change
Canada’s supply management system has achieved much: protecting farmers, ensuring food security, and sustaining rural economies. Yet, it faces mounting pressure to adapt. Rising consumer demands for affordability, evolving trade landscapes, and the push for innovation all challenge the status quo.

The Bloc Québécois’ stance reflects a broader debate about how Canada defines the future of its agriculture. Can we strike a balance between protecting domestic producers, ensuring our food security, and embracing global trade? The answer will shape not just the nation’s economy, but its food systems for generations to come.