Canadian dairy supply management 2.0?

Guelph professor calls for reform to supply management

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

University of Guelph professor Sylvain Charlebois says Canada’s dairy supply management sector needs to adjust. Charlebois recently wrote an opinion piece in the Montreal Gazzete where he explains how we may be witnessing a shift to what he calls supply management 2.0, referring to the recent announcement made by the Dairy Commission to create a new milk class for mozzarella cheese to be used on fresh pizzas.

Charlebois argues that the most recent move by the commission signals a policy shift and may have those in the industry re-thinking the traditional supply management structure. He makes note the 50-year history of dairy supply management along with several other commodities explaining that the system was created to balance supply and demand for domestic dairy products.

The University of Guelph professor was bold to say that Canadian dairy farmers have no other choice but to change, arguing that the current structure of supply management is unbending and should be reformed. Charlebois stops short of calling for an end to supply management but says that the policy could warrant some adjustments.

Charlebois concludes by saying that the creation of a new supply management model – 2.0 has the opportunity to boost the competitiveness of our food processing and food service industries.