Forks up for Canadian Ag

“They work extremely hard,” Bibeau said. “2020 has been even more unpredictable than a normal year. I think Canadians have realized the hard work they do, and they do essential work.”

Bibeau said it is good to see more people are buying local. The pandemic has emphasized the importance of a reliable food supply.

“I think in Canada we were taking this for granted a bit too much. We were lucky the international food supply chain worked well, our national supply chain as well, but we have seen some weaknesses. Sometimes we depend a bit too much on big food processing facilities, so I’ve been asked about a more regional food supply chain,” Bibeau said.

Canadians are more likely to look for Canadian food in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic according to a new survey by Farm Credit Canada (FCC).

FCC Director of Industry Relations Mary Seymour said the events of the past year have shown us that in times of crisis, the Canadian agriculture industry continues to provide safe and reliable food.

“Canadians have noticed and are responding with appreciation for the agriculture and food industry’s ability to adapt, even under difficult circumstances,” Seymour said.

In the survey conducted between Jan. 8 to Jan. 12, there was evidence of a shift in what Canadians are doing and thinking about when it comes to buying their groceries.

When asked if their behaviour has changed since the start of the pandemic, 58 per cent said they are more likely to buy Canadian made or grown food, 56 per cent are more likely to look for Canadian made or grown food when they buy groceries and 50 per cent are more likely to think about how their food is grown.

Seymour said it is encouraging to see such a strong endorsement for Canadian food production.

“The vast majority of Canadians agree that it’s important we have a strong agriculture and food sector to ensure we can continue to be a source of safe, reliable and affordable food,” Seymour said.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic most events will be held online this year.

Canada’s Agriculture Day Virtual Fireside Chat, hosted by Agriculture More Than Ever, will have FCC President and CEO Michael Hoffort and Canada’s Ambassador to China Dominic Barton discuss opportunities for Canadian agriculture and food and how Canada can continue to be a global food supplier.

The event will also feature Chantelle Donahue with Cargill, Daniel Vielfaure with Bonduelle and AGT Foods president and CEO Murad Al-Katib. The groups will share their thought on global growth prospects in food and how the industry can be part of Canada’s economic recovery.

Another virtual event will focus on the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE) near Clavet, Sask.

Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan executive director Clinton Monchuk said it will be a great opportunity to talk to some of the individuals who are working at LFCE.

“We’ll have an overview with video walking through the facility and have some live Q and A with Lana Haight and Dr. Collin Palmer going through some of the research and the benefits to the cattle industry in the province and the country,” Monchuk said.

The video tour and question and answer session will run from 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

You can find it on the Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan Facebook or YouTube pages.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF

by Alice McFarlane

Forks up for Canadian Ag

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