How to make NAFTA great again
MONTREAL—During the American election campaign, Donald Trump criticized the North American Free Trade Agreement on several occasions, going so far as to call it “a disaster,” and he clearly stated his intention to renegotiate it. Although the new president is wrong to target it as the source of the economic ills afflicting his country, it […]
Indian high commissioner remains ‘hopeful’ pulses trade spat will be resolved before deadline
India’s new high commissioner, Vikas Swarup, says he is hopeful that India will renew its six-month relaxation period on Canada’s pulse exports. “I can only remain hopeful” he said. “It eventually depends on what comes out of India. But the conversations I’ve had lead me to go in a positive direction.” India is Canada’s biggest […]
Agriculture complicates Trump’s trade bluster
Questions are swirling around the direction of United States trade policy now that Donald Trump is in the White House. He came out swinging against Mexico and China for what he perceives to be the theft of American manufacturing jobs. He is considering a 20 per cent border tax on imports from Mexico as a […]
Does China trade deal line up with ‘Canadian values’? Feds want to know
It’s not just Conservative MP Kellie Leitch who wants to talk about Canadian values; Canada’s foreign ministry is looking for public submissions on just that topic as part of an online consultation on the prospect of a free trade deal with China. The consultations launched with little fanfare March 4, with a webpage and online […]
Transparency in today’s grain market just not possible
Many farmers are complaining about grain prices being offered this winter, especially for wheat. It is hard to find a port price for wheat, but data from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada states the average price this year is north of $8.60 per bushel at Vancouver and even higher on the world market. Yet farmers are only […]
Canadian agricultural policy: why supply management?
OTTAWA—In Canada and in other countries, the markets for agricultural products are characterized by considerable instability due to factors such as unpredictable weather, technological advances, and changing demands. This poses an immense challenge to agricultural producers who often face fluctuations in prices that subsequently result in uncertain incomes. Supply management systems were established in Canada […]
Changes south of the border offer both challenges and opportunities for sustainable agriculture in Canada
A number of obstacles presently stand in the way of efforts to make Canada’s agricultural system more sustainable. A heavy reliance on chemical inputs, industrial processing, and long distances between farm and plate have contributed to high rates of greenhouse gas emissions, degradation of water and soil quality, and threats to biodiversity. These ecological challenges […]
The time is now to position Canada as a global leader in Agri-Food
February 16 is Canada’s Agriculture Day; a day to celebrate the food we love and where it comes from, focusing not only on farmers and producers but also on Canada’s food processing sector, our retailers large and small and, of course, consumers. Although Canada’s Agriculture Day is a new addition to the calendar, it is […]
Growing the agriculture sector means growing the conversation about food
Food drives many of our conversations at home, on social media, and just about everywhere else. When we gather together, food is often the most anticipated guest of honour. And yet, despite how often most of us are thinking or speaking about food, those discussions don’t always spill over into our country’s vital political and […]
How farmers can fight climate change and hunger
Can improved agricultural practices help fight both climate change and hunger? Yes, according to one the world’s most esteemed climate scientists. In fact, when meting out money for mitigating climate change, Canada should prioritize supporting small family farming. James Hansen, who is the retired head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, has warned […]
