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Five big food issues to watch in 2021

From creating more inclusive food systems to tackling climate change, here are the issues experts have their eye on going into the year

BY Arrell Food Institute

January 26, 2021

In 2020, the food industry faced countless new challenges. As it did, several key issues about how our food systems work became more pressing than ever. At the recent Arrell Food Summit, experts from across the food and agriculture industries covered these pressing issues. Here are the big issues to watch heading into 2021.

Agriculture’s role in mitigating climate change

Climate change inherently has an impact on our food systems. At the same time, agriculture may just be the cornerstone of a green recovery. Throughout the food system, individuals and organizations – from conventional farmers to Indigenous communities to major food brands – are creating ways to mitigate climate change.

Fighting food insecurity and hunger

Food insecurity and hunger, both in Canada and around the world, were top-of-mind for many in 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic created even greater challenges. As former UN World Food Program executive director Ertharin Cousin points out, while governments, non-profit organizations and the food industry generally all have roles to play in creating change, individual action can also have a meaningful impact.

Creating a more inclusive food system

As in many parts of society, our food systems still have persistent inequality. At the Arrell Food Summit, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) experts gave their take on some of the biggest barriers to a more fair and inclusive food system – including what’s stopping more BIPOC youth from getting involved in agriculture.

Tackling food waste in Canada

Like food insecurity, food waste was also in the spotlight in 2020 and will likely continue to be in 2021. From farm to table in Canada, about 30 per cent of food is disposed of unnecessarily. As the Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau said during her talk at the Arrell Food Summit, curbing food waste will take investing in innovation.

Keeping up with COVID-19

Finally, while progress is being made, COVID-19 will continue to pose a challenge in the coming months, especially within the food industry. Over the course of the past year, the industry found new ways to get food to tables safely, plus give back to communities in need, and that’s likely to continue in 2021.