Ontario Agriculture

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The World is Getting Hungrier -and that's Good News for Canada's Agriculture Industry!

You’ve probably heard it before, but the numbers are worth repeating. The OECD Observer notes that the size of “the global middle class” ... at breakneck speed. In fact the number of people fitting into the middle class is expected to increase from 1.8 billion in 2009 to 3.2 billion by 2020, and up to 4.9 billion by 2030. Over that period of time Asia’s share of middle-class consumption will more than double from 23% to 59%.

No surprise: Appetites Grow with Incomes

It makes sense that a rise in incomes brings with it a rise in appetites, not just in food but for pretty much everything. But while Asian demand for luxury goods may be fettered by global economic decline, demand for food is much less elastic. Want proof? Over the latest economic downturn Canada’s food exports to emerging markets has grown from a mere 14% of agricultural exports in 2002 to over 30% today, according to a recent video released by the Export Development Canada’s (EDC) to.... Now with global growth set to pick up steam, analysts are expecting Canada’s agricultural exports to make significant gains.

Exports to China Account for 1/3 of Canada’s Agricultural Sector

Mr. Hall also notes that with 40 million people in China being vaulted into the middle class each year, exports to the country have been increasing by approximately 16% each year, and growth will continue to accelerate in years to come. Nonetheless, that’s not to understate the growth being seen in other emerging markets as well. In fact, statistics shared by the EDC list the next ten emerging markets (including Brazil, Indonesia and Vietnam among others), all showing double-digit increases in imports of agricultural goods from Canada.

Canada’s Agri-Food Sector Receive Boost from EDC and the Fed

The EDC pegs Canada’s primary and processed food exports at 11% of the total goods leaving Canada each year. As a nation that is consistently a net exporter of food, the Federal government and Export Development Canada (EDC) has targeted the sector for a number of support programs to help small to mid-sized businesses reap the benefits of trends in emerging markets including China; making Canada’s agricultural sector of greater interest to business owners and investors.

Free Webinar: Learn More about Government Funding Programs for Agriculture and Agri-Food

If you are an established small to mid-sized business that has been incorporated for more than 2 years, with more than 15 employees you are invited to attend a Free Government Funding for Agriculture and Agri-Food Webinar, presented by Mentor Works.

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

The 13-Year Lag: Why Today’s Wheat Breeding Success Depends on Yesterday’s Investment

Wheat varieties are performing better than ever, but a “slow drip” of budget cuts means the next generation of innovation is at a critical crossroads. Wheat varieties that deliver high yields, exceptional quality and strong disease packages are available in abundant choice to Manitoba farmers. This choice and performance are thanks to an often-overlooked wheat breeding innovation system. “Wheat is one of my favourite crops to grow; it can withstand whatever the year throws at it,” says Jocelyn Velestuk, chair of the Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC). “In past decades that hasn’t always been the case.” There’s lots of variables driving the success of wheat in Western Canada, but Velestuk is adamant that the foundation of that success is our wheat breeding programs. “We can’t take that system for granted and right now, it’s at risk,” she says. While the varieties available today are excellent, the process of plant breeding means those successes are built on efforts made over 1

Rotimi Aluko, professor, University of Manitoba

Rotimi Aluko is a professor at the University of Manitoba (UM) in the Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, as well as director of the Richardson Centre for Food Technology and Research. Originally from Nigeria, he completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees in biochemistry there before earning a PhD in food science at the University of Guelph. He moved to Winnipeg in 2001, where he lives with his wife. Their two children are grown; one lives in Winnipeg and the other is in Alberta. Where did you work before UM? I’ve been here for 25 years, but before UM I worked as a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Saskatoon. What got you interested in becoming a professor? From my undergraduate days I was fascinated by my professors, how they taught, carried themselves and were respected in society. I worked as a scientist with AAFC after my PhD, but I was always on the lookout for a professorial position. It had been a longtime goal, so when t

Canadian Cattle Association Statement on Revised Regulatory Approach to the Livestock Traceability Regulations

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) is pleased by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) announcement that new movement reporting requirements for cattle will not be moving forward while changes for other species will proceed. CCA remains committed to our support for livestock traceability as a core pillar of disease preparedness, market access and confidence in Canadian beef. CCA and provincial member organizations are in the final stages of convening a Task Force to work for producers on a risk-based, industry-led approach to disease preparedness and emergency management and will be making an announcement soon, pending finalization of the Task Force members.

Waterton Biosphere Region seeking input on predator losses

The Waterton Biosphere Region is seeking input from livestock producers who have experienced losses to bears, wolves or cougars between 2021 and 2025. Information collected through the survey will be used to help inform discussions around Alberta’s predator compensation program.  Producers are asked to provide up to five years of data on livestock inventories, overall death losses and predator-related losses. Personal information will remain confidential and will not be shared externally.  The survey is currently open to producers located within the Waterton Biosphere Region and will remain open until the end of June.  The survey is available online:  Producer Data – Predator Losses  Paper copies can also be obtained through local municipal district offices.  Understanding the biosphere region The Waterton Biosphere Region is a biosphere region located in southwestern Alberta. According to the organization, biosphere reserves are traditionally organized into three zones, known a

Wild boar eradication efforts continue across Alberta

Province reports nearly 600 animals removed since 2018 Alberta’s Wild Boar Control Program says efforts to eradicate invasive wild boar from the province are continuing to advance, with nearly 600 animals removed since 2018. In an update shared through the Alberta Invasive Species Council (AISC), the province reported that 595 wild boar have been removed through trapping efforts since the program began, including 108 animals in 2025 and nine more so far in 2026. Tracking progress toward eradication Wild boar are considered one of the most destructive invasive species affecting agriculture in North America due to their ability to damage crops, pasture, fencing, water systems and native ecosystems. They can also pose disease risks to livestock and wildlife populations. “The Wild Boar Control Program is taking some big steps towards eradicating wild boar in Alberta with the support of all our amazing partners,” wrote Hannah McKenzie, Wild Boar Specialist with the Alberta government,

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