Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Day 1: We made it!

AALP Class 15 and our friends from the Atlantic Agricultural Leadership Program secured the farms at home, wrapped up last minute projects, said goodbye to loved ones and battled vicious winter weather to descend on Terminal 1, excited - and maybe a little nervous - to kick off our grand adventure.

While some caught fitful sleep and others binge watched movies, everyone was glued to the windows as the Andes came into view. Despite the lack of sleep, people were energized by the sun and the warmth as we cleared customs and loaded up onto our ride for the week. Our tour guides, Terry and Andres, gave us a tour of Santiago as we made our way to the hotel. 

Walnut and almond orchards are prevalent on the outskirts of the city as the crops do well in the dry, semi-arid climate. On the hills above the orchards we saw evidence of the rampant fires that can destroy the high hills in the driest parts of the season.

As we travelled further into the city, we drove by the Presidential offices. This building was originally constructed to be the mint and as such, it still retains its name as La Moneda. We toured by a bustling central market which is renowned for its fish and seafood - common in a country with such a long coastline.

The group is excited to get up close and personal with that coast line tomorrow as we head to Valparaiso. We're told to pack a sweater because it can be chilly on the coast but we're certain the weather will feel plenty fine compared to what we just recently left behind in Canada.

Stay Warm, Friends.

-Class 15

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Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Depopulation could destabilize food systems

It’s difficult to argue that climate change isn’t the most pressing threat to our agri-food sector. Farmers, processors, distributors, retailers and transporters have all been forced to adapt in real time to extreme weather events, shifting growing seasons and volatile conditions. From droughts to floods to wildfires, climate change has tested the resilience of every link in the food supply chain. Yet, for all the challenges the sector has faced – and will continue to face – due to climate pressures, it has managed to cope reasonably well. Investments in technology, new crop varieties, smarter logistics and infrastructure upgrades have helped absorb many of the shocks. But there is another looming threat – quieter, slower, and far more difficult to reverse – that few in the industry appear prepared for: depopulation. At its core, the food industry is built on one assumption: that there will always be more mouths to feed. Growth in population has long been a proxy for market growth.

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