FVGC welcomes platform commitments on food security and sector sustainability

Apr 25, 2025

At a time when food security is top of mind for Canadians, the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada (FVGC) has reviewed the 2025 federal election platforms to assess how well each party addresses the urgent needs of Canada’s fruit and vegetable sector. FVGC’s analysis focused on five core priorities critical to safeguarding our food supply: food security, business risk management, labour, crop protection, and trade competitiveness.

The Liberal platform demonstrates the strongest alignment with FVGC’s recommendations, including commitments to apply a food lens to the mandates of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), permanently increase the AgriStability payment cap, grow greenhouse capacity, and invest in domestic processing and trade diversification.

“These commitments tell us our message is being heard,” said Massimo Bergamini, executive director of FVGC. “But election platforms aren’t blueprints—they’re invitations. It’s our job to ensure these ideas become meaningful action.”

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Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.