I'm happy to be here.
Canada is one of the few countries that have the ability to grow more food than we will ever consume. We have the land, water and climate. We have the people and knowledge. We don't worry about hitting a landmine as we prepare the soil. We have markets, a great reputation and safe food policies. Canada has a lot going for it. The world sees us as an answer to global food insecurity.
Global food insecurity is real and significant, and it needs long-term strategic answers. What can Canada do to improve the situation? Three things come to mind: one, ensure that farmers have the vital tools they need to be the best they can be; two, protect the resources that are required to farm; and three, continue to push the envelope through research, development and knowledge transfer.
No one can control the weather, but there are some things that we can control. Cell and broadband Internet allows us to be connected to markets and should be thought of as an essential service in Canada. Insurance programs such as AgriStability need enough dollars and need to work for and with farmers. Fairness inside of the marketplace through proposals such as the grocery industry code of conduct and Bill C-280, the proposed financial protection for fresh fruit and vegetable farmers act, will make it easier for farmers to balance some of the financial risks. Continued access to farm labour, both domestic and from other shores, will ensure that crops are planted, tended to and harvested on time, and that livestock is cared for. Finally, access to inputs such as fertilizer, equipment and packaging is critical to farmers and processors. These come from global markets.
Wise decisions and cautious development of ways forward need consultation with agriculture and decision-makers such as you. We can get these things right. The industry wants to be a part of a successful way forward.
To farm, there are a few basic needs. We need farmland, soil health, and access to water and the sun, but it tends to go up and down on its own. There are ways to protect farmland that the Canadian government can help with. As we look at infrastructure investment in urban areas, such as transit, government can ask great questions: Will this encourage walkable communities and renew cities inside of their boundaries? Will intensification targets be met?
Pushing for long-term strategic land use policies inside our major cities will actually protect farmland that grows food for the world. We can't keep watching our cities sprawl and expect that we can continue to grow as much food as we do now. Technology is great, but I am not going to grow wheat inside a container anytime soon. Farmland is a finite resource, and once it is put into homes or concrete, it never goes back to farmland.
Soil health also matters, and if we don't feed our plants as recommended by crop advisers, we see degradation, because the plants will mine the soils for the nutrients they need. Farmers know this and must balance the feed that the plants need according to their needs, including manure and green solutions, synthetic fertilizers and micronutrients. We can't feed the world without paying attention to the needs of plants and our soils.
Farmers would like to be acknowledged and rewarded also for the great practices they are currently doing. There are creative ways to do this, and the promotion of best management practices needs to be strategic. Farm organizations like ours can help you with this.
Finally, too often research into the best solutions for farming can't happen because of dollars. I'm aware of sectors that are struggling to get investment in research facilities and of research that isn't field-trialled because the dollars aren't there. Publicly funded agriculture research benefits all of society. It is trusted more and can answer some of society's concerns. Both basic research and knowledge transfer are critical to seeing Canadian farmers continue to be the best they can be.
As president of OFA, I see farmers' passion for growing things. Few have a desire to stay the same. They want to be the best that they can be in an environment that has tight profit margins and has many factors outside of their control. Our slogan is “Farms and Food Forever”. Farming isn't thought about in terms of years or decades, but rather in generations, and we should reflect on global food security, or insecurity, in the same way.
Thank you.
