As the Public Trust Summit approaches, we want to ensure that all attendees, particularly those new to the topics of food integrity, transparency, and building public trust, feel equipped and prepared to make the most of this event. In this article, we will share some valuable tips and resources to help you navigate the summit with confidence and deepen your understanding of these critical issues. Familiarize Yourself with Key Concepts To maximize your summit experience, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the fundamental concepts related to public trust. Understanding terms such as c ..read more

The Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI) is proud to announce that registration is now open for the 2023 Public Trust Summit, which aims to bring together industry leaders, experts, and consumers to discuss and explore the critical issue of public trust in the food system. This two-day event will be held on October 17-18 at the Westin Airport Hotel in Toronto, and will feature a range of keynote speakers, panel discussions, and breakout sessions. The summit will kick off with a keynote presentation by Darrell Bricker, Global CEO of IPSOS Public Affairs, who will share his insights on publ ..read more

Canada’s Agriculture Day 2023 will be held on February 15. It is a day to celebrate and recognize the hard work and contributions of our farmers and agri-food industry. This industry plays a crucial role in feeding our nation and maintaining a strong economy. The agriculture and agri-food industry are one of Canada’s largest employers, providing jobs for over 2.1 million Canadians. In 2021, the whole agriculture and agri-food system generated $134.9 billion (around 6.8%) of Canada’s gross domestic product. From coast to coast, farmers work tirelessly to produce high-quality food for Canad ..read more

By John Jamieson Canada is in the enviable position of being able to produce enough food to largely feed its citizens and export its surplus, but less than one per cent of the population is involved in primary production; 250,000 people create food for 38 million people. The only way we manage to do that is through a sound food policy based on science that supports diversity within our food system. We must remain cognizant of any changes government makes to our national food policy because its effects will ultimately be felt by every Canadian. Food security means having dependable access to an ..read more

By John Jamieson Canada is in the enviable position of being able to produce enough food to largely feed its citizens and export its surplus, but less than one per cent of the population is involved in primary production; 250,000 people create food for 38 million people. The only way we manage to do that is through a sound food policy based on science that supports diversity within our food system. We must remain cognizant of any changes government makes to our national food policy because its effects will ultimately be felt by every Canadian. Food security means having dependable access to an ..read more

By John Jamieson Talk of rising food prices has gone from news reports to dinner-table conversations. Whatever walk of life you come from, the price of food is on your radar. Food costs are higher across the supply chain from grower to grocer, but amid the stark facts, there is something to be thankful for – Canada has one of the best food systems in the world and as consumers, we are resilient. We have heard the news reports telling us the same basket of food this year could cost families nearly $1,000 more than last year. How did we get here? The truth is our reality reads like a work of fic ..read more

Everywhere you go these days you are sure to hear the word sustainability. It can mean many things to different people and industries, but whatever your idea of sustainability is, most would agree that sustainability touches upon the environment, economy and society. More than ever, Canadians are concerned about the environmental impact of growing food. For nearly a decade, the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI) has published an independent report on Public Trust Research. It is based on surveys and focus groups with thousands of Canadians. In 2021, for the first time, sustainability an ..read more

By John Jamieson A serious labour shortage is taking place across the globe and Canada is no exception. It did not happen overnight. The size of our labour force has been shrinking since 2000. A big reason for that is baby boomers, who were a large part of the workforce, have retired or are close to retirement. Add the migration from rural to urban centres and traditionally low wages for manual work, and it is no surprise that pre-Covid, the agricultural food sector already had the highest job-vacancy rate of any industry. The fallout from the pandemic goes beyond higher food prices. Canada’s ..read more

Everywhere you go these days you are sure to hear the word sustainability. It can mean many things to different people and industries, but whatever your idea of sustainability is, most would agree that sustainability touches upon the environment, economy and society. More than ever, Canadians are concerned about the environmental impact of growing food. For nearly a decade, the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI) has published an independent report on Public Trust Research. It is based on surveys and focus groups with thousands of Canadians. In 2021, for the first time, sustainability an ..read more

By John Jamieson Never has so much information been available to consumers as there is now. Information about the Canadian food system is no exception – from regulatory oversight to the list of ingredients on our favourite box of cookies. Information empowers us to make choices that are right for us and our families. Where our food comes from, who’s producing it and how, are natural questions to ask, but there is so much information out there that sometimes we do not know who to trust. Not many people outside the food industry have a strong knowledge of how our food system works, yet food is s ..read more