Thank you, Mr. Chair and committee members.
I would like to thank the committee for inviting me here again. This is the ninth time. I’ve always enjoyed my discussions with this committee over the years. Today I’m also joined by my colleague Janet Music, who is also from the lab at Dalhousie University.
From a food security context, Canada has always done well. The global food security index is made up of a set of indices from more than 120 different countries. Since 2012 the index has been based on four main pillars. These are food access, safety, sustainable development and food affordability. This year Finland ranks first, followed by Ireland and Norway. Canada is well positioned compared with other countries around the world, since we are ranked seventh globally, the same as last year.
In terms of food access, which measures agricultural production, farm capacities and the risk of supply disruption, Canada ranks sixth. We produce a lot, and we are also part of a fluid North American economy, which we need to preserve, focused on cross-border trade. All of this allows for better food access. However, our food processing sector needs help and support.
Another pillar focuses on sustainable development, the environment and climate adaptability. This pillar assesses a country's exposure to the impacts of climate change, its sensitivity to risks related to natural resources, food waste management and how the country adapts to these risks. In this regard, Canada ranks 29th. Food waste remains Canada's Achilles heel, as we waste more than just about anyone else on the planet.
The area where Canada's performance is of some concern is food affordability. Canada fell one spot again this year. It sits at 25th in the world. Australia, Singapore and Holland top the list for affordability. Given the resources that Canada has, we should do better.
When it comes to food safety and quality, Canada ranks no less than first in the world. Canada is ahead of everyone, even Denmark and the United States, both renowned for their proactive approaches to food safety. This is often forgotten by consumers.
Our reputation for safety leads me to the Barton report submitted five years ago. The report suggested freeing up the potential of certain key sectors and identified the agri-food sector as one with potential, but it was unfortunately forgotten. The report also mentioned how populations were expanding around the world, the growing demand for protein in Asia and the need for reliable markets like Canada. As the fifth largest agricultural exporter in the world, Canada could become a world leader in terms of confidence in healthy, nutritious and sustainable food in the 21st century. The report went on to say that Canada had the potential to become the second-largest exporter in the world. Yes—second!
A reliable food supply, resource availability, the location of arable land and solid research hubs represent the strengths of our agri-food sector. Not only that, but opportunities around the world are opening up because of the explosion in demand for emerging markets, and the growing number of constraints around the world in terms of land, water, energy and carbon emissions. Our agri-food exports have continued to grow in spite of challenges in the sector, and totalled $82 billion in 2021, exceeding the previous objective, which was to increase agri-food exports to at least $75 billion by the year 2025. If we had a better logistics network and more resilient supply chains, we could do even better.
On November 15, the world's population will reach 8 billion people. When the issue of world food security comes up, Canada is unfortunately barely part of the discussion, and that's something that has to change.
Thank you.