FCC launches Drive Away Hunger campaign

Sep 15, 2016

Tractor tours will take place during the week of October 10

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

Farm Credit Canada launched the 13^th annual Drive Away Hunger campaign with a goal of providing four million meals for Canada’s food banks.

Tractor tours will take place across Canada during the week of October 10. Tractors and trailers will make their way through communities to collect food and cash donations, and one hundred per cent of the items collected will be donated to local food banks.

Drive Away Hunger not only allows communities to help those in need, but also recognizes the pivotal role producers play in being able to provide for food banks.

“FCC Drive Away Hunger is an excellent example of how FCC and Canadian agriculture contribute to their communities and those in need,” Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay said in a release. “I commend FCC for leading this national food drive and Canadian farmers for their continued generosity and support for food banks across the country.”

According to Food Banks Canada,approximately 360,000 people use a food bank each month in Ontario. Approximately 34 per cent (or nearly 122,000) are children.

Last year, farmers helped Drive Away Hunger provide 5.2 million meals across Canada. 1.3 million meals came from Ontario alone.

Donations can be made a variety of ways including online and at an FCC office.

Video: Season 6, Episode 10: Defining Resiliency and the Research Driving Swine Health Forward

Genetic research and new technologies continue to influence the future of swine health and production efficiency. In this episode, we explore how research and technology are being used to support stronger, more resilient pigs, while also improving overall production outcomes. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jenelle Dunkelberger, geneticist with Topigs Norsvin, to discuss both routine and emerging strategies for improving piglet, pig, and sow livability. She outlines two primary approaches to enhancing resiliency: gene editing and traditional selective breeding. Continuing the resiliency conversation, we also hear from Dr. Lucina Galina, director of technical research projects at the Pig Improvement Company. She shares insights into ongoing gene-editing work focused on PRRS, detailing the pathway to success, regulatory and practical considerations, and the questions that still remain as the technology evolves. Together, these conversations provide a closer look at how research, genetics and innovation are shaping the future of swine health and livability.