The drive for greater productivity in agriculture has led to an unprecedented level of food security for much of the world. But according to an article published by the journal Nature in September, that has come at the expense of environmental stability, making it more difficult to sustain high productivity. Why it matters: Biodiversity loss negatively affects farming systems over time. Experts say improving biodiversity would make agricultural systems more resilient and potentially less expensive for farmers. The authors say future agricultural systems must account for this trade-off and address humans’ historical tendency to prioritize production above all else. The article, “The productivity-stability trade-off in global food systems”, analyzes a wide breadth of humans’ historical management of food systems, and how changes in management affected the size and diversity of organisms in land and aquatic environments. It then looks at how food webs — all the food chains in a singl
The Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing wants to strengthen regional crisis liaisons for farmers. Briana Hagen, chief executive officer and the centre’s lead scientist, spoke at the Animal Health Canada annual forum in Ottawa last month. Why it matters: Dealing with an infectious livestock disease can affect farmers’ mental health. Research on the mental well-being of producers over the past 10 years “paints a bit of a concerning picture,” said Hagan. Stress, anxiety, depression, emotional exhaustion and cynicism are all higher among farmers than the national average. Research out of the University of Guelph in 2022 noted particular declines in farmer mental health during the pandemic. One alarming statistic indicated that suicide ideation was twice as common in farmers than in the general population. An emergency could make that bad situation worse. “What happens when there’s this added stress?” Hagen said. “If African swine fever is here, then what happens?” Many groups
The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $7.5 million to support 365 projects that will help the province's farmers, food processors, and essential farm-supporting agribusinesses protect their operations against pests and diseases while enhancing operational resilience and strengthening public trust in our food supply system. The funding through the Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative, combined with cost-shared investments by the sector, is expected to generate up to $31.5 million in total biosecurity enhancements across Ontario's agri-food sector. Under the initiative, farmers, processors, and select farm-supporting agri-food businesses were eligible for cost-share funding ranging from 35% to 50%, depending on the project category. Supported activities include the implementation of technologies that reduce the spread of animal and plant diseases and capital upgrades that enhance biosecurity (such as constructing isolation facilities and wash bays). Examples of proje
With two decades of experience innovating DNA and RNA-based diagnostic methods, 20/20 Seed Labs R&D Manager Kim Kenward — based in Nisku — has built one of Canada’s largest portfolios of molecular tests offered in agriculture, a comprehensive service portfolio that detects bacteria, fungi, viruses, weeds, and crop traits in seed, tissue, and soil to assess risks associated with use of a given sample. And she’s done it because she lives in a country where industries like hers are allowed to explore their potential for innovation. “Canada has been allowing seed, germination, and disease testing to be handled by the private sector for over 30 years now,” says Kenward. “Meanwhile, the U.S. still relies heavily on state colleges and universities to manage these processes, which keeps it largely under government control.” She chairs the Canadian mirror committee for ISO/TC 34/SC 16 (Horizontal methods for molecular biomarker analysis), providing expert opinions to form the Canadian govern
With more than 130 cage-free egg policies, over 50 Better Chicken Commitment policies and numerous crate-free pork policies adopted over the past decade, the "Canada Animal Welfare Scorecard," published Wednesday, Oct. 30, by Mercy For Animals, reveals which companies are leading the charge — and which are falling behind — in animal welfare. In this fourth edition, the report underscores the need for continued public scrutiny and corporate accountability to drive industry-wide change and reduce animal suffering. The scorecard is the only one of its kind in Canada, ranking 40 major food companies on their commitment to improving welfare for millions of animals. Serving as a benchmarking report for the private sector, the scorecard is an essential tool for food businesses to learn how they stack up to competitors and which animal welfare issues are most important to consumers while providing the public with the most up-to-date information to hold companies accountable. Since the first
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