GUELPH — The need for maximized food production appears to be missing as Canada’s politicians hammer out the details of a new five-year agriculture policy framework, a concern raised by the Grain Farmers of Ontario.
The latest impending funding framework deal between the provincial, federal and territorial ag ministers is dubbed the “Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.” Controversially, it may incorporate some effort to reduce nitrogen fertilizer usage.
“The world has changed drastically since the last time that group met and this agreement does not reflect the new realities facing Canada, the world and farmers. We are concerned that there is no priority on helping to mitigate global food shortages,” GFO Chair Brendan Byrne said July 26.
“Ontario grain farming has always struck a delicate balance between providing the most food we can for the world and having minimal impact on the earth itself in order to ensure future generations will be able to produce food. That balance is missing in the communications we have seen around the federal-provincial-territorial meeting and the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership,” Byrne said.
He pointed out that ensuring the competitiveness of Canadian agriculture remains as important as ever amid global food shortages.
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