Health Canada responds to baby formula shortage, PEI's alternative crops for cash program, and more

May 23, 2022

The week will soon be coming to a close and if you’re looking to catch up on the latest in Canadian food news, you’ve come to the right place.

From a Health Canada update on the North American baby formula shortage to a P.E.I. potato proposition that could potentially help Island farmers find a new source of income, here are five food stories you might have missed this week.

After last week’s baby formula shortage continued into this week, Health Canada confirmed that it has begun working with manufacturers to expedite product importation wherever possible. Until the crisis comes under control, Health Canada is advising against using homemade formulas or substitutes such as cow’s milk, goat’s milk, and evaporated milk.

Health Canada has also said that parents should avoid buying in bulk and should not buy products from unknown sources.
Following a recent announcement from P.E.I.’s agriculture minister that there will be no exports of Island seed potatoes until at least next year, the province recently proposed that farmers who are unable to export their potatoes convert to alternative crops until next season.

Those who are able to qualify will receive $1,000 per acre, which the province hopes will help keep farmers afloat while also sustaining the farms for future harvests.

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Video: EP 70 Maximizing Soil Function – Stories of Regeneration Part 3

Soil is very much alive. And hungry too. Some estimates go as far as saying that there is more life in a teaspoon of healthy soil than there are people on the planet. You just need a microscope to see the vast majority of it. Or you do what grain farmer Blake Vince did, and bury a pair of “tighty whities” (underwear) in the soil to produce proof of the existence of this vast and diverse soil microbial community.

In the soil, you’ve got well-known critters like earthworms, bacteria and fungi and lesser-known ones like protozoa and nematodes, who have this tendency to eat the bacteria and fungi. In this bustling environment where a lot of things are eating each other, there is an exchange between soil organisms and plants so both sides of the equation get what they need to survive and thrive and produce food for the rest of us living above ground. This interaction between the soil and plants is something that fascinated Blake Vince, who farms mainly soya and corn in southwestern Ontario, it fascinated him at a young age.

Welcome to Stories of Regeneration, a podcast series brought to you by Rural Routes to Climate Solutions and Regeneration Canada. Join me, your host Derek Leahy, as we delve into the importance of supporting an agricultural system that not only prioritizes the health of our land and ecosystems but also ensures the sustainability of our farmers and ranchers. Get ready to explore the transformative power of regenerative agriculture.