Author: Owen Roberts

In a rare piece of good news last Friday, the Ukrainian agriculture ministry bumped up its estimate of spring crop planting from 13.4 million to 14 million hectares.
But it’s still a drop in the food bucket for more than 800 million people around the world suffering chronic food insecurity, and forecast to worsen this year. Image: AFP, FAO, USDA.

A recent survey of Canadian consumers shows their overwhelming support for food grown or produced in this country. But the issue of food prices is growing, with eight in 10 saying that hunger and food insecurity is a serious problem for many Canadians.
Photo: ctvnews.ca

Food and Beverage Canada has called on Ottawa for an emergency foreign worker program to help fill dire labour shortages in those sectors. It’s is a chronic and critical issue, but it seems federal politicians may need a reminder from their constituents about just how significant the impact is – not only for agriculture, but for rebuilding the post-COVID Canadian economy. Photo: macleans.ca

When Ottawa committed to cut fertilizer use by 30 per cent as of 2030, farmers balked. As much as they want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, fertilizer is essential for current crop production levels. Now Ottawa’s invited their suggestions on new technologies and practices that might just make that target more feasible. Photo: foodfromthought.ca

Railway labour woes meant fertilizers almost didn’t make it to North American farmers in time for planting this year. Binding arbitration saved the day, for now. But the impact on world grain markets could have been catastrophic if the railways didn’t run – especially with a greatly depleted grain and oilseed harvest expected from Ukraine and Russia this year. Photo: theglobeandmail.com