Food systems are defined as the way food is produced, processed, distributed, and consumed1, and they are essential to our daily lives. The complex logistics of these food systems allow us to put food on the table. Every piece of food you eat is grown, harvested, processed, shipped, sold, and purchased with each step executed by multiple hands.
Farming is Our Foundation
In Canada, the agricultural sector is the foundation of our food system. Farms, nurseries, and greenhouses work hard to produce food for Canadians, generating over $31.7 billion in Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP)2. This sector, known as primary agriculture, employs 247,200 people2 and grows millions of metric tons of produce3.
The food grown by these primary producers then sustains the rest of the system, such as processors, retailers, and foodservice providers3; in 2023, the whole agriculture and agri-food system employed 2.3 million people, provided 1 in 9 jobs in Canada, and generated $150.0 billion of Canada’s GDP3. Clearly, farming food matters!
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