Toronto: During the COVID-19 crisis, Canada’s food supply chain experienced numerous pressures, ranging from panic buying to temporary shortages to the rapid shift to e-commerce for grocery stores, farmers, and restaurants.
The latest report by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), Growing a More Resilient Food Supply Chain in Ontario, outlines why policymakers need to take action on issues such as rising food insecurity and food fraud as well as supporting the demand for local food and the shift to online sales to help grow a stronger agri-food sector.
“COVID-19 brought our agrifood system and supply chains to the forefront. We can all remember food flying off the shelves due to stockpiling and panic buying at the outset of the pandemic. Ultimately, while the pandemic caused parts of Ontario’s food supply chain to bend, the chain itself did not break,” said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
The report explains how Canada’s food system continued to provide Canadians with uninterrupted access to food throughout the pandemic due to the strength of the many sub-sectors and businesses that make up the food supply chain. However, the pandemic put a spotlight on why we need to take action – so the system never gets to a breaking point.
“Addressing red tape and labour shortages among farmers, as well as tackling food fraud and food insecurity, will not only ensure Canada’s agri-food sector is able to withstand future challenges, but it will also support agrifood businesses and an equitable recovery,” added Rossi.
The recommendations outlined in Growing a More Resilient Food Supply Chain aim to strengthen the agri-food sector. Specifically, the report asks federal and provincial policymakers:
1.Meet the demand for local food and shift to online sales; help producers transition to e-commerce;
2. Improve the AgriStability program by increasing the payment cap and payment trigger, and processing claims more quickly;
3.Remove red tape facing farmers, including inter-provincial trade barriers for meat and meat products;
4.Support next generation of farmers by attracting youth to the sector and reducing other barriers like access to land and capital;
5.Curb food fraud through improved seafood labelling and a pragmatic plan; and
6. Eliminate food insecurity by collecting data, setting targets, and investing in infrastructure in Indigenous/emote communities. Cathy Lennon, General Manager, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, said: “The agri-food sector contributes $47 billion to the annual GDP and supports over 860,000 jobs across the province. [We must]encourage young people to consider a career in this vibrant tech-driven sector.”
Richard Horne, Executive Director of the Beef Farmers of Ontario, added: “Ontario farmers need well-funded government programs that mitigate risks, provide timely support, and preserve the “strength of the agri sector.”