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Price of food in Canada going up in 2019

Price of food in Canada going up in 2019

Families will spend more than $400 more for groceries next year, a new report says

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

The price of putting food on dinner tables around Canada is rising, but farmers won’t be getting any of the increase.

Canadian families will spend an average of $411 more on groceries in 2019, Canada’s Food Price Report says. That amount equals an average increase of $34.25 per month.

Families will spend about $12,157 annually on groceries next year, the report says.

Food prices in several categories are expected to rise.

The prices of fruits and vegetables, for example, could increase between 1 and 6 per cent respectively, the University of Guelph and Dalhousie University publication says.

But that potential rise in retail costs doesn’t necessarily translate to increased revenue for farmers.

Minimum wage in Ontario jumped to $14 per hour from $11.60 at the beginning of 2018.

That means others in the supply chain had to raise prices to offset production costs, said Linda Grimo, a fruit and nut producer from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.

“Farmers don’t benefit at all,” she told Farms.com. “Our labour expenses havegone up so much and there’s no way to recoup that off the price of the product.”

While a higher minimum wage does contribute to higher food costs, it can also help strengthen food safety and quality.

“I feel strongly that minimum wage should be $15 per hour,” she said. “It wasn’t Canadian romaine lettuce that had a problem. And part of having good, safe food is having a labour force that handles food properly.

“We employ hard workers who keep our food safe, so for grocery bills to go up a little more than $400 per year is nothing.”

Lower retail costs will also affect farmers’ bottom lines.

Meat prices in grocery stores could drop by as much as 3 per cent. An increased interest in plant-based proteins is responsible for part of the price drop.

“In 2018, many local butchers closed their doors due to lack of demand, and this trend is expected to continue in 2019,” the report says.

Producers are already feeling the effects of consumers turning away from traditional sources of protein.

“Prices are already pretty low on our end and it looks like consumption is going down,” Ron Peare, a 100-head beef producer from Bruce County, Ont., told Farms.com. “There’s definitely room for the price to go up substantially.”


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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