May 17 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — G20 agriculture ministers note investment needed to boost food production. Ottawa—Just 11 weeks into her tenure as federal agriculture minister, Marie-Claude Bibeau had a wide array of issues to juggle during a four day visit to Japan for her first G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting. While the Chinese blockade on Canadian canola dominated the headlines, […]
May 15 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Canola isn’t the only crop affected by trade disputes. Ottawa—The U.S.-China trade tiff is destabilizing international trade and the federal government needs a strategy to cushion Canadian farmers from the fallout, says Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) and its members. In addition to the Chinese blockade against Canadian canola seed and other crops, grain […]
May 14 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — McCain warns outdated rules could create an economic Armageddon. Ottawa—The united front shown by the Chief Veterinary Officers of Canada, the United States and Mexico at a two-conference on confronting African Swine Fever (ASF) was a good start, say agrifood leaders and veterinarians. However much needs to be done by the three governments and […]
May 13 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Packaging matters for producers and consumers. Ottawa—In a move the rest of the agrifood sector will be watching, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) has formed a working group to look into what alternatives to current plastic packaging are available. “This is a complex issue which is a focus for consumers, governments and industry,” […]
May 9 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Special Senate hearing kicked off new study on soil health in Canada. Ottawa—Higher crop prices and the trend to increased use of rented land is leading to abuse of the country’s valuable farmland, warns long time soil health advocate Don Lobb. Lobb, a former farmer, was part of a panel testifying to the Senate […]
May 8 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Worker shortages in the agrifood sector are a glaring example of the problem. Ottawa—The last of the baby boomer generation will exit the work force during the next 11 years and that’s only going to worsen labour shortages across Canada, the Conference Board of Canada (CBoC) says in a new report. “Due to its […]
May 7 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Ottawa—Agrifood groups seeking changes to a fisheries bill to ensure it doesn’t disrupt farm operations across the country have the backing of the Senate fisheries committee. Committee Deputy Chairman Senator Marc Gold of Quebec said the Government Senate Leader Peter Harder and Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson have indicated they are prepared to amend sections of […]
May 2 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Farm leaders put human face to the consequences of an ASF outbreak in the Americas. Ottawa—More than 150 officials and agrifood representatives from 15 countries brainstormed for two days on measures to halt the global spread of African Swine Fever in pigs and keep it out of the Americas. They agreed that a lot […]
May 1 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Canada will keep working on diversifying agrifood markets and trying to get China to talk science. Ottawa—The maximum available under the Advance Payments Program (APP) for all crop growers will be raised to $1 million from the current $400,000 and the enrollment deadline pushed back two months, Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced May 1. […]
Apr 29 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Chamber offers several suggestions for overcoming European protectionism. Ottawa—The federal government has to make better use of dispute mechanisms in the free trade deal with the European Union to tackle protectionist measures that are hindering agrifood exports to Europe, says the Canadian Chamber of Commerce The 18-month-old trade deal removed most tariffs but that […]
Apr 24 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Farm and food organizations have their own issues but maintaining public trust is one they must collaborate on. Ottawa—When it comes to building and maintaining public trust in the food system, agriculture and processing organizations have to exit their silos and work together cooperatively, says Jean-Michel Couture of Groupe AGECO. “We need a collective […]
Apr 22 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — PMRA under-resourced for current pesticide evaluation workload. Ottawa—The federal government should fulfill its promise to streamline the regulatory system for agriculture and food processing with action before the October election, says the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Numerous reports during the last few years on the need for regulatory reform have drawn promises of action, […]
Apr 17 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — Current law could endanger many farm operations. Ottawa—The Canadian Federation of Agriculture and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association are pressing the government to protect farms from unintended handicaps that legislation under study in the Senate could cause. CFA will get to make its case May 2 for changes to Fisheries Act amendments that could handicap […]
Apr 16 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — The federal government needs to help educate the public about the reality of GM crops. Ottawa—The Canadian Food Inspection Agency needs to crack down on false and misleading labels about GM foods, says Robert Saik, an agrifood entrepreneur and commentator. CFIA should order grocery stores and food companies to remove false labels about GM […]
Apr 15 2019 — Alex Binkley — National Newswatch — The public needs to hear how the food regulatory system ensures safety. Ottawa—The federal government could provide an important assist to the agrifood sector as it prepares to launch its initiative to build public trust in the safety of Canadian produced foods, says Susie Miller, Executive Director of the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops. […]