Powering Food Futures
Unlocking Canada’s agri-food potential
Canada stands at a pivotal moment. As climate change, geopolitical uncertainty and supply chain disruptions reshape global food systems, the country has a unique opportunity to emerge as a global leader in climate-resilient food production. Increasing international demand for secure, sustainable and innovative food systems presents Canada with a generational opportunity to strengthen economic growth, create jobs, and reinforce food security at home and abroad.
As the federal government advances the National Food Security Strategy and governments across Canada align around the Halifax Statement, there is growing recognition that the country’s future prosperity depends on a strong, resilient and competitive agri-food sector. Both frameworks emphasize the need to increase productivity, profitability and scale through the adoption of new tools, technologies, equipment and business practices.
Powering Food Futures, a new initiative between Arrell Food Institute, the Ontario Agricultural College (both at the University of Guelph), and Loblaw Companies Limited, will explore how Canada can strengthen its position as a global climate-resilient food powerhouse.
Through engagement, research, and a flagship report, the initiative will examine opportunities across three interconnected themes: climate resilient food production capacity and Canada’s global role; innovation, technology and productivity in agri-food; and workforce, skills and economic opportunity.
“This is an opportune time to think big and find the critical opportunities that will fuel Canada’s future as an agri-food powerhouse,” says Evan Fraser, Executive Director of AFI.
Powering Food Futures will work with experts, industry leaders, policymakers, researchers and advocates from across the food system to explore challenges and opportunities of shared importance. The initiative is intended to be more than a report. It aims to spark dialogue, support policy conversations, strengthen networks, and mobilize collaborative action towards a more resilient global food system.
“We are very excited to collaborate with the Arrell Food Institute and Loblaw to advance the Canadian agriculture sector and help build a resilient and competitive agri-food system,”
says John Cranfield, Dean of the Ontario Agricultural College.
For more information, please contact Powering Food Futures Project Lead, Maimouna Abass at poweringfoodfutures@uoguelph.ca.
/