What a year 2021 was in agriculture and food! Emily, Abdul and Paul get together to review some highlights of events in agriculture and food, from global to local. The UN Food Systems Summit made its mark. Extreme weather and climate change made their impact. Flooding in British Columbia and drought throughout western Canada and northwest Ontario prompted Government assistance to affected farmers. The cooperative Hay West also assisted. Canada’s new climate plan now includes agricultural programs that were confirmed in Budget 2021. A contested Fertilizer Canada study claimed a 30% reduction in emissions due to fertilizer use would cost farmers massive lost production. Equity and reconciliation are getting attention in agriculture. The Guelph Ministers’ statement shows direction on next federal-provincial-territorial agricultural policy framework. Farmland protection from development was a hot topic across Ontario. Locally in Guelph, we highlighted the work of Our Food Future and the SEED tackling issues of food security and food waste. Those are just a fraction of hot topics in 2021, even without COVID.
More information:
UN Food Systems Summit
https://www.un.org/en/food-systems-summit
Canada’s new climate plan
AgriRecovery funding for farmers facing extreme weather
$3 million of Funding for Hay West
Ontario's Drought Support for Northwestern Farmers
Farm groups issue statement on reconciliation
Fertilizer Canada study
Canada’s Ministers of Agriculture release Guelph Statement
Farmers hampered by excessive rain
https://www.producer.com/news/ontario-farmers-hampered-by-excessive-rain/
Our Food Future
The SEED Guelph
