Here’s what feds are doing to tackle food security challenges across Canada

The federal government has announced highlights of their plan to tackle food security challenges impacting people across Canada. 

The National Food Security Strategy is being launched in an effort to build a stronger economy while making life more affordable for Canadians. 

To achieve these goals, over $3 billion will be invested in the strategy over the next 10 years. The funding is being aimed at driving productivity and innovation, supporting independent grocers and creating greater competition across Canada’s food system.

The hope is that these efforts result in lower grocery prices. 

“The National Food Security Strategy is about giving Canadians greater choice, control and access to affordable, locally produced food,” said Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. 

“Through this made-in-Canada approach, we will be able to process more of what our farmers grow, creating new jobs, economic opportunity and more food self-sufficiency.”

On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Peter Fragiskatos, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship outlined the strategy’s four main objectives during its launch. 

The first is to spur grocery store competition, creating more choices for Canadians. 

To this end, $1 billion is being dedicated to “new and expanded food terminals and hubs.” The Canadian government says this will help independent grocers buy more competitively priced products without relying on larger chains’ networks. 

Furthermore, additional funding will provide the Competition Bureau and Competition Tribunal with more resources to investigate, prevent and take action against unfair business practices.

The second main objective is to boost domestic food production across Canada.

According to the Canadian government, for years the country has been in a cycle of exporting raw agricultural products to other countries, where they are then processed and sold back to us as finished food products. This objective of the strategy aims to cut out the middle man with a $1 billion Agri-food Project Finance Fund. 

Additionally, a $150 million Food Security Fund to help Canadian businesses grow, produce and process more food in Canada and a $100 million Collaborative Food Innovation Fund will support more food processing in Canada. 

The third main objective of the plan is to grow fruits and vegetables year-round.

The federal government is investing $750 million in expanded year-round production of fruits and vegetables in Canada. This will be done through funding greenhouses, vertical farms and other enclosed growing spaces across the country. 

This objective aims to reduce reliance on long, costly supply chains by expanding local food production.

The fourth and final objective is to cut red tape across the agricultural supply chain.

The federal government’s goal is to modernize key regulations, speed up approvals for seeds, feed, fertilizers and veterinary products, thus reducing backlogs in the system. 

Provincially licensed food businesses will also be supported to meet federal requirements so that food produced and processed under provincial licences can be sold more easily across Canada.

On the whole, these four objectives’ goals are to help Canada gain more control of its own food system and decrease the country’s reliance on foreign suppliers. 

This National Food Security Strategy was announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney in early June, but is now being put into action throughout Canada.