By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Tuesday November 8, 2022

Nov 8, 2022 | 10:35 AM

MELFORT, Sask. – A new report by RBC said Canada’s agriculture sector needs to increase food production while also investing in sustainability to reduce emissions.

The report in collaboration with the BCG Centre for Canada’s Future and the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute said Canada needs to increase its food production by a quarter by 2050 just to maintain its contribution to feeding the world’s growing population.

However, it said the sector also needs to cut emissions which currently produces 93 megatonnes in greenhouse gas emissions a year, more than 10 per cent of Canada’s output.

The report said that through technology, finance, and policy, Canada’s agriculture sector could cut up to 40 per cent of potential 2050 emissions.

Some key solutions identified in the report include regenerative agriculture techniques like carbon capture, controlled environment agriculture like greenhouses and vertical farms, and technology deployed in everything from crop genetics to soil testing.

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Assiniboine Community College at Brandon, Manitoba is introducing a Swine Production Foundations program.

The online and self-directed program provides learners with an understanding of swine operations, including regulations, health and safety, record keeping, and barn systems and maintenance.

It will also cover content on production practices related to stockmanship, pig health care, breeding, farrowing, nursery, and grow and finish.

Russ Edwards School of Agriculture and Environment Dean Tim Hore said the college collaborated with the Manitoba Pork Council and industry partners to develop a program to meet the needs of modern animal care standards.

“The program will train the next generation of hog farmers and swine technicians to uphold the strong animal care standards the hog sector is responsible for,” Hore said.

Hog farmers are required to follow a Code of Practice. The code consists of 105 federally regulated rules to ensure the province’s hog sector continues to be a respected world leader in producing safe, high-quality protein.

Assiniboine will also introduce two additional programs to advance knowledge and leadership skills for swine technicians, which are anticipated to launch in 2023.

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Across the country, businesses are developing innovative technologies to improve productivity and food supply, and P&P Optica Inc. is one example.

The company developed a smart imaging system to inspect meat automatically on the production line.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said P&P Optica will receive roughly $2.4 million through the AgriInnovate Program to help build and present its food inspection technology for meat processors.

The system analyzes the composition of food, evaluating properties like tenderness, freshness and its protein, water, and fat content. It can detect imperfections and eliminate foreign bodies like plastic, bones, and rubber. These tasks are done right on the production line in real time.

Bibeau said Canada’s processors are adopting new technologies to increase production.

“P&P Optica’s technology gives processors essential information that provides many benefits, including helping to reduce food waste,” Bibeau said. “Our government is committed to investing in innovative projects that support the long-term growth and success of our agriculture and agri-food sector.”

The funds will be used to also build a demonstration room. The hyperspectral imaging technology evaluates the safety and freshness of meat products by analyzing colour and moisture. It also gives a large range of data to processors.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW