THE BEEF, PORK & POULTRY INDUSTRY DIGITAL MAGAZINE
April 2022
CLIMATE CHANGE: A THREAT TO HUMAN WELLBEING AND HEALTH OF THE PLANET Meena Sankaran and the Ketos Solution Female Farmers Tackling Many Obstacles FCC: Canada’s Food Manufacturers Grow Sales, Despite Challenges Canada to Invest in Poultry Market Development Renewing Confidence in Canadian Agriculture and Agri-business
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Ninja Raises $2.8 Million
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Climate Change: A Threat to Human Wellbeing and Health of the Planet
Q+A: Meena Sankaran and the Ketos Solution
Avian Flu Puts Egg Supplies at Risk
Female Farmers Tackling Many Obstacles
FCC: Canada’s Food Manufacturers Grow Sales, Despite Challenges Canada to Invest in Poultry Market Development
Renewing Confidence in Canadian Agriculture and Agri-business
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THE BEEF, PORK & POULTRY INDUSTRY DIGITAL MAGAZINE
April 2022 Volume 26 Number 4 PUBLISHER Ray Blumenfeld ray@meatbusiness.ca MANAGING EDITOR Scott Taylor publishing@meatbusiness.ca DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR Cam Patterson cam@meatbusiness.ca CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Cam Patterson, Scott Taylor, Jack Roberts, Taylor Brown CREATIVE DIRECTOR Patrick Cairns
Meat Business Pro is published 12 times a year by We Communications West Inc.
NINJA RAISES $2.8 MILLION TO EXPAND GROCERY DELIVERY SERVICE IN CANADA Commercializing the first 10-minute grocery and essentials delivery service in Canada, Ninja has raised $2.8 million from Lachy Groom, Flexport and Contrary Capital to further accelerate its growth. As a first mover in the space, Ninja is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this largely untapped market, supported by top-shelf backers. “This new round of investment allows us to speed up our store expansion plans and bring 10-minute delivery of grocery and consumer essentials to more homes in Canada.” said Wesley Yue, CEO, Ninja. “Canada’s ecommerce penetration of the grocery market is only 8%. As the ecommerce share of grocery spend in Canada continues to climb, we are certain that the grocery stores of the future will be built to serve online purchases from the ground up, rather than as an afterthought to existing grocery infrastructure.” Capitalizing on Market Opportunity
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The Canadian grocery market is now worth more than $100B, making 2021 a significant year for Ninja, which has seen consistent double-digit week-overweek growth. Founders Wesley Yue, CEO (ex-Waymo), Michael Markevich, Head of Operations (ex-Lime, Uber), Gonzalo Graham, Head of Product (ex-Tesla) set up the first store in Waterloo, Ontario, quickly followed by two additional stores in downtown Toronto. They recruited their core team from the likes of Uber, DoorDash, Zomato and Goodfood. Their staff now exceeds 80. The company has an aggressive expansion plan in 2022 to grow its footprint across Canada and increase its product selection to more than 2,500 SKUs. Unparalleled Dispatching Algorithm Ninja’s proprietary dispatching algorithm makes couriers more efficient compared to industry standards, doubling orders delivered per hour to enable 10-minute grocery delivery in Toronto and Waterloo.
Printed in Canada. ISSN 1715-6726
Unlike some last mile delivery services, Ninja delivers out of its own dark stores where they hold more than 1,300 products in diverse categories that include alcohol, Ontario-raised meat & produce, beverages, health, bath & beauty, cleaning and home and office products. To reduce their carbon footprint, Ninja couriers complete all deliveries on ebikes. Open until 2:00 am in Toronto and 3:00 am in Waterloo, Ninja offers free delivery for purchases over $10. For more information, visit ninjadelivery.ca or follow them on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok. meatbusinesspro.com
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CLIMATE CHANGE: A THREAT TO HUMAN WELLBEING AND HEALTH OF THE PLANET Taking action now can secure our future The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released a special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. This lengthy, peer-reviewed report released in early April is close to 3,000 pages in length with input from 195 governments over how best to present the “state of the union” of climate science. Its conclusion is hardly cheering. To meet the goals of the Paris agreement, to limit the average global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels—and failing that, to below 2°C— will take immediate and unprecedented action from every country.
which will be irreversible. Risks for society will increase, including to infrastructure and low-lying coastal settlements. The Summary for Policymakers of the IPCC Working Group II report, Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability was approved on Sunday, February 27 2022, by 195 member governments of the IPCC, through a virtual approval session that was held over two weeks starting on February 14.
URGENT ACTION REQUIRED TO DEAL WITH INCREASING RISKS Increased heatwaves, droughts and floods are already exceeding plants’ and animals’ tolerance thresholds, driving mass mortalities in species such as trees and corals.
Human-induced climate change is causing dangerous and widespread disruption in nature and affecting the lives of billions of people around the world, despite efforts to reduce the risks. People and ecosystems least able to cope are being hardest hit, said scientists in the latest IPCC report. “This report is a dire warning about the consequences of inaction,” said Hoesung Lee, Chair of the IPCC. “It shows that climate change is a grave and mounting threat to our wellbeing and a healthy planet. Our actions today will shape how people adapt and nature responds to increasing climate risks.” The world faces unavoidable multiple climate hazards over the next two decades with global warming of 1.5°C (2.7°F). Even temporarily exceeding this warming level will result in additional severe impacts, some of
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These weather extremes are occurring simultaneously, causing cascading impacts that are increasingly difficult to manage. They have exposed millions of people to acute food and water insecurity, especially in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, on Small Islands and in the Arctic.
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To avoid mounting loss of life, biodiversity and infrastructure, ambitious, accelerated action is required to adapt to climate change, at the same time as making rapid, deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. So far, progress on adaptation is uneven and there are increasing gaps between action taken and what is needed to deal with the increasing risks, the new report finds. These gaps are largest among lower-income populations. The Working Group II report is the second instalment of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), which will be completed this year. “This report recognizes the interdependence of climate, biodiversity and people and integrates natural, social and economic sciences more strongly than earlier IPCC assessments,” said Hoesung Lee. “It emphasizes the urgency of immediate and more ambitious action to address climate risks. Half measures are no longer an option.”
FOOD SECURITY FACES CLIMATE THREAT Investment levels to support the necessary transition have been insufficient. The report says the biggest investment gaps lie in the agriculture and land sectors. Investment needs to increase 3-6 times current levels if we are to stand a chance of limiting global warming. Food production and quality has been hit by the impact of climate change. IPCC found productivity is 21% lower due to global heating with high temperatures and extreme rainfall damaging soil health while increased levels of carbon dioxide reduce the nutritional quality of crops.
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SAFEGUARDING AND STRENGTHENING NATURE IS KEY TO SECURING A LIVEABLE FUTURE There are options to adapt to a changing climate. This report provides new insights into nature’s potential not only to reduce climate risks but also to improve people's lives. “Healthy ecosystems are more resilient to climate change and provide life-critical services such as food and clean water”, said IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair Hans-Otto Pörtner. “By restoring degraded ecosystems and effectively and equitably conserving 30 to 50 per cent of Earth’s land, freshwater and ocean habitats, society can benefit from nature’s capacity to absorb and store carbon, and we can accelerate progress towards sustainable development, but adequate finance and political support are essential.”
especially for those cities that already experience poorly planned urban growth, high levels of poverty and unemployment, and a lack of basic services,” Debra Roberts said. “But cities also provide opportunities for climate action – green buildings, reliable supplies of clean water and renewable energy, and sustainable transport systems that connect urban and rural areas can all lead to a more inclusive, fairer society.” There is increasing evidence of adaptation that has caused unintended consequences, for example destroying nature, putting peoples’ lives at risk or increasing greenhouse gas emissions. This can be avoided by involving everyone in planning, attention to equity and justice, and drawing on Indigenous and local knowledge.
Scientists point out that climate change interacts with global trends such as unsustainable use of natural resources, growing urbanization, social inequalities, losses and damages from extreme events and a pandemic, jeopardizing future development. “Our assessment clearly shows that tackling all these different challenges involves everyone – governments, the private sector, civil society – working together to prioritize risk reduction, as well as equity and justice, in decision-making and investment,” said IPCC Working Group II Co-Chair Debra Roberts. “In this way, different interests, values and world views can be reconciled. By bringing together scientific and technological know-how as well as Indigenous and local knowledge, solutions will be more effective. Failure to achieve climate resilient and sustainable development will result in a sub-optimal future for people and nature.”
CITIES: HOTSPOTS OF IMPACTS AND RISKS, BUT ALSO A CRUCIAL PART OF THE SOLUTION This report provides a detailed assessment of climate change impacts, risks and adaptation in cities, where more than half the world’s population lives. People’s health, lives and livelihoods, as well as property and critical infrastructure, including energy and transportation systems, are being increasingly adversely affected by hazards from heatwaves, storms, drought and flooding as well as slow-onset changes, including sea level rise“Together, growing urbanization and climate change create complex risks, 8
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A NARROWING WINDOW FOR ACTION Climate change is a global challenge that requires local solutions and that’s why the Working Group II contribution to the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) provides extensive regional information to enable Climate Resilient Development. The report clearly states Climate Resilient Development is already challenging at current warming levels. It will become more limited if global warming exceeds 1.5°C (2.7°F). In some regions it will be impossible if global warming exceeds 2°C (3.6°F). This key finding underlines the urgency for climate action, focusing on equity and justice. Adequate funding, technology transfer, political commitment and partnership lead to more effective climate change adaptation and emissions reductions. “The scientific evidence is unequivocal: climate change is a threat to human wellbeing and the health of the planet. Any further delay in concerted global action will miss a brief and rapidly closing window to secure a liveable future,” said Hans-Otto Pörtner.
For more information, visit https://www.ipcc.ch/
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MEENA SANKARAN AND THE KETOS SOLUTION By Cam Patterson With increased droughts decimating herds and ravaging what previously had been fertile crop lands, water sustainability and resiliency has never been more important. For Ketos CEO, Meena Sankaran, clean water has been a lifelong mission. Growing up in India where millions suffer from waterborne diseases, global health and wellness has become her life’s mission. She rolled that philosophy into her company with great success since she founded it in 2015. Seeking a better solution to water quality and monitoring by utilizing an innovative, intelligent platform model, driven by an intuitive, bi-directional communication software, and packaged in a revolutionary and cost-effective design, she has reset the bar for predictive water quality intelligence on the global playing field.
MBP: How does KETOS patented water monitoring solution fit into the food production and processing industries specifically? MS: When you look at instrumentation monitoring, you have a very select set of parameters that the industry has typically been able to monitor like chlorine, nitrates, nutrients, organics, and environmental parameters like pH or temperature. For this wide spectrum analysis, you would typically have to have a lot of handheld probes and online analyzers because each one would have to be dialed to a specific parameter and you would end up with a very big system. Then for everything else you need to measure where instruments don't exist or the technology has not evolved to be able to measure, you typically would just send samples to the lab and wait for results.
Meat Business Pro had a chance to talk with Meena about how the Ketos smart water intelligence solution is gaining momentum in the livestock and meat processing industries.
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MBP: How did you accomplish that through your systems? MS: The first thing we've done is decoupled how we manufactured our system itself. What I mean is, our system is completely autonomous, essentially a robot doing continuous water monitoring where the customer can control the what, when, where, and how of that system. And it is a problem-free system for the farmer or operator since we own the hardware, we maintain it, we service it, yet the customer owns the data which they can assimilate based on their reporting requirements.
What we wanted to address as a breakthrough with Ketos is: first, how can testing not be cost prohibitive because you are having to buy instrumentation for the different parameters that you want to understand about your water composition which most famers don't have budgets for. Second, you must have a person assigned, so extensive labor hours to clean and calibrate the system will add additional costs. Third, you're also spending extensively on consumables. This is all very counterintuitive to high frequency testing, and as a result you’re not leveraging data to your advantage in order to better inform your operational decision making. We wanted to break that mold.
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Essentially, our customer has a very robust platform where they have controlled access over the graphical data to properly determine what water anomalies are happening from multiple water sources within their water system. Whether it’s groundwater by a well, surface water near a river, or a stagnated pond near a meat processing facility, it’s the exact same single piece of hardware that is manufactured for all customer types. Continued on page 12
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MBP: What has been their take-away since deploying the system? MS: They were pleased to discover within the first couple of months after deployment that they had saved over 120 hours of manual sample collection time. That’s true value-added cost savings. We were also able to optimize their chemical treatments during remediation which translates to improved dollar value for their overall operation. The other thing that has happened for this facility is improved compliancy. They're closely watched because they receive subsidies depending on the quality of the water, so they're becoming more cognizant of sustainability metrics and ensuring their permit levels are always compliant. With Ketos we’re able to help them remain 100% compliant. MBP: What is the process to account for customer variances such as climate, region, type of farming and or processing? MS: We pre-program the system with the parameters you care about and from there the robot has the intelligence to self-calibrate parameter variances such as flow pressure and sensitivity while allowing customers to pick and choose what makes more sense for their core operations. MBP: What does the research and deployment phase look like for a meat processor or farmer who is considering the Ketos system? MS: We've proven the system across about 170 million data points right now. So from our standpoint it’s about the customers learning about us and kind of building that credibility with them is job one. The first thing we usually do with customers such as a new meat processing company for instance, we would first try to understand what is their current operational spend in a plant? We consider their needs between labor and water monitoring together with their requirement targets for their compliance. MBP: Can you be more specific?
MBP: Have you installed the Ketos systems in any big livestock farms or meat processing plants? MS: Yes, we're currently deployed in one of the largest beef and poultry producers in the country. A large part of their business is also pork. 12
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MS: We’re basically answering pertinent questions that could factor into impacting their compliance. Are there process control issues that they are presently exceeding? Have there been very specific pain points? Is it spread across all their plants? So really trying to get a state of understanding of how we can add the maximum value in the shortest amount of time for them. meatbusinesspro.com
MBP: How would meat processors, producers or farmers find you? MS: That's part of our learning curve right now, how do we get the word out? How do people find us? We've been putting together an agriculture event list. For now, our goal is to get farmers and processors to be able to reach out to us via our website. MBP: Since Ketos is a relatively new startup, how has the initial phase changed the company mission?
MBP: What does the agreement to deploy the Ketos solution look like? MS: Our customers usually enter into a three-year agreement with us because we have $0 capital purchase. They will typically do a 30 day trial and then convert to our system, but most of them - if they've seen an extended amount of data validation - sign on. For us the job is to help them make sense of the process, personalizing the system in terms of their environment. Sometimes we arrange site visits or talks with a current customer. This is what typically occurs during the sales process. MBP: What is the installation process or is this a standalone system?
MS: I’ve always been very big on water quality and food safety, process control, and practicing sustainable metrics. Helping customers achieve that is crucial to me. We're committed to improving our operational intelligence perspective for the customer as well. What I mean by that is it so much more than just water quality data, because the water quality insight is just the beginning of all the other intelligence that can help them in their core business. And seeing it from such a different lens for the first time for them becomes compelling because of how much improvement efficiency they can bring to their business. To sum up, I would say accelerating on increasing brand awareness in terms of how much value we can add to the customer base is our priority. I think we can really be a great supplemental support without it being intimidating for operators.
For more information, visit https://ketos.co/
MS: It’s straightforward actually. The system is basically the size of a microwave and can easily be wall mounted. We can do regular power or solar cell battery as well. The installation itself can be done in half a day, but fully up and running is about two days to work out internet connections, encryption, and/or cybersecurity testing if needed as part of their process. Over the years we keep tweaking our site installation learning as well as the overall implementation process. MBP: Do they have to do the analyzing? Or is it a redundant system that's set up, like centralized data collection? MS: Yes, we do the full analysis. They get a login and a password. They will receive alerts based on their threshold minimums and maximums. We also integrate with their SCADA systems, if they want us to, for any sort of triggering of pumps or other actions to their SCADA system. We can also integrate, past years’ worth of third-party lab data, or other instrument data they've collected in other locations. meatbusinesspro.com meatbusinesspro.com
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AVIAN FLU PUTS EGG SUPPLIES AT RISK Recent outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) within the U.S. layer flock are adding strain to beleaguered egg supply chains, which have not fully recovered from disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. While egg production has stabilized in recent months, it is still well below pre-pandemic levels and egg availability could be limited leading into Easter, according to a new research brief from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange. “U.S. egg producers have been hard-pressed to align supplies with market demand over the last two years,” said Brian Earnest, lead animal protein economist with CoBank. “The U.S. layer flock typically expands ahead of the surge in demand for Easter and contracts during the summer months. But recent losses due to HPAI have combined with high feed costs and other challenges that are severely limiting flock size management.”
The U.S. table egg layer flock trended ahead of target growth in 2019, however, the annual supply has declined by more than 5% since then. The decline in supply stems from extreme shifts in consumer behavior during 2020. Although grocery demand skyrocketed during the onset of the pandemic, egg producers were not initially set up to shift lost food service volumes into retail channels. The lack of packaging equipment and supplies needed for grocery sales led to empty store shelves, sky-high retail prices, and ultimately, lower egg consumption. Compounding the pandemic challenges, producers also faced increased input costs of grain, energy and transportation. The latest blow to U.S. egg supplies is the worst outbreak of HPAI in years. At least 11 million layers have been lost in recent weeks. With USDA reporting new cases almost daily and depopulation of operations ranging from in the tens of thousands to more than 5.3 million birds, estimating the total expected losses is challenging.
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DF: I don’t think being on the island has really impacted us negatively one way or the other. We’ve traveled a lot, met a lot of other farmers and livestock producers in other parts of Canada, and we all seem to have the same issues and same concerns. CMB: I understand that your farm was the first in Atlantic Canada to be involved in the TESA program. DF: Yes, I think we were the first farm east of Ontario as far as I understand. I’m not sure why the eastern associations wouldn’t have previously anybody because The mostnominated recent USDA weekly shellthere eggare many farms here on PEI doing demand indicator shows about five every days bit as much as we are to attain a of inventory are currently onas hand, which high level of sustainability. Anyway, normally suggests a tight, but not alarmingly we were very surprised when the PEI tight supply. However, it does not appear Cattleman’s Association nominated our that supplies farm.will be able to accommodate
the reduction in layers as a result of HPAI CMB: And then you were attending the outbreaks, especially at a regional level. Canadian Beef conference in Calgary and you won.
Current supply pressures coincide with DF: Yeah! That was a very nice moment typical in-store grocery features ahead of for us. But I don’t like to use the Easter celebrations. With However, eggs serving word win actually. beinga dual purpose of both decoration and cooking recognized for our commitment was supply, retailers typically ontoeggs a real honour. If yourely want knowas a theMarket truth, it was a pretty humbling loss-leader. forces result in seasonally experience. As I said CBCeggs whenahead they higher wholesale values for to shell methe aftertight the conference, I was of Easter,phoned but with supply situation just floored, really couldn’t believe it. now exacerbated by flock reductions, prices So now that you haveConsumers been are aboveCMB: fundamental ceilings. do youof think will are likely recognized, to absorb some thethat cost draw more attention and garner more increases as they seek to fill their baskets nominations out of Atlantic Canada with eggs prior to Easter. going forward?
DF: Absolutely. We’ve gotten a lot of good press highlighting the island cattle industry. I’m positive you’ll see more farms in our neck of the woods nominated next year. And I have to give the Canadian Cattleman’s Association recognition for choosing a farm from Prince Edward Island. We are small players in the national beef industry and I think it was a real credit to their organization to recognize us. They treated all the nominees royally and it was a real class act. It was a wonderful Read the experience. research brief: Pandemic, Higher
Costs and Avian Flu Put Easter Egg Supplies at Risk. Article courtesy of CoBank. meatbusiness.ca meatbusinesspro.com
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FEMALE FARMERS TACKLING MANY OBSTACLES – IN HONOR OF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH In 2019, more than half (51%) of all farming operations in the United States had at least one woman operator, according to the 2019 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). And it’s no surprise that female farmers have to overcome some unique challenges in order to persevere, including health and wellness issues that arise from working a farm, providing care for children, and even in some cases, disabilities that impact them or their families that arise from farm-related injuries. In fact, Kathleen Smith, a Female Executive and CEO of Life Essentials, a company that provides a full-suite of highly innovative, industrial-quality mobility solutions called LifeLyfts™, for disabled or injured argi and farm workers, shared, “As it is currently Women’s History Month, it is a great time to honor the many sacrifices of the female farmers in our nation and highlight their contributions to the prosperity of many. Women in agriculture are helping to pave the way for the next generation of women by ensuring they have the education, courage, and power to meet the challenges of the world’s growing food, fuel, and fiber needs.”
Women have been crucial to farming and ranching operations worldwide for centuries. Modern women in farming are engaged in various industry functions that push the needle, such as electing responsible agricultural producers, serving as a voice for the industry across many boards, and serving on the USDA Advisory Committee. The United States also has a long history of female farmers. With World Wars in the early- and midtwentieth century, men abandoned the family farm to pursue military service, and women stepped in to pick up the slack. In fact, after the end of World War II, US food production had even increased by 32% over prewar levels. Continued on page 18
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The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) lists multiple women’s safety and health issues in agriculture, such as pesticide exposures, chronic bronchitis, pregnancy-related risks, work-related injuries, exposures to inhaled substances, livestockrelated injuries, fatigue, cancer risks, depression, and risk factors for infertility. These risks combined with challenges in living in rural locations mean that female farmers experience health disparities compared to the overall population. Women in rural areas have poorer health outcomes and less access to care than those living in urban locations. SPECIFIC HEALTH RISKS FOR THESE WOMEN INCLUDE: And while women have long played a role in the agricultural industry, the number of women in farming continues to grow. In the USDA’s 2017 Census of Agriculture, over 36% of American agricultural producers are women, an increase of nearly 5% since the 2012 Census. And this figure has likely risen since the last survey was conducted. These women play a vital role on farms by working the fields, birthing livestock, completing daily chores, conducting the accounting, and making management decisions for the farm. In addition to these tasks, women assume various roles on the farm, including operator, mother, wife, agricultural salesperson, and veterinarian, among others. The women who do this day in and day out are truly inspiring. However, this job is not without risks, especially for women. In pursuit of the many tasks that need to be completed to keep the farm running, women may neglect their health and safety needs – and they aren’t the only ones to neglect it. Nearly all safety education in agriculture is designed for men in farming operations. Yet, some health and safety risks either apply specifically to women or are more pronounced for female farmers.
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• Heart disease • Diabetes • Breast cancer • Broken bones • Chronic pain • Mental health disorders • Pregnancy risks • Respiratory illness
The reality is that women in farming help to feed the nation, but they do it at risk to their health and wellness. And unfortunately, some women must still find a way to be productive after suffering a major farming accident. Agriculture mobility equipment, such as platform lifts for tractors and off-road equipment, can make it easier to return to work and ensure that female farmers have a steady income even after a major accident. These products can also help throughout the recovery process by ensuring that farming operations are not impacted negatively, which also means that women can sustain a source of income while recovering or caring for a loved one who may be recovering. meatbusinesspro.com
THE BEST DEFE A STRONG OFFE
3. Consider a custom design. Certain injuries and special jobs around the farm might require a custom configuration to get the equipment you need. Once again, it is best to work with a vendor or manufacturer PROMOTING THE HEALTH BENEFITS that has experience with custom designs for farm By Ronnie P. Cons applications. This trait may make it easier and more affordable to whatwrongly you need quickly. as being unhealthy. Red meat isget often portrayed
some in the media as unhealthy or not environmentally fr The nation depends on our female farmers who play a vital role in getting food to everyone’s tables. But they Vegan, fish and other non-meat diets have been proposed as liver, 6 are morealternatives. prone to certain illnesses injuriesofwhile spinac healthier The result of this or onslaught negative working on the has farm or caringmany for others are in on meat messages influenced familieswho to cut back Iron fo their meat Mobility and poultry purchases.for Perceptions may reality recovery. equipment agricultural uses canbut found truth trumps Parents and other consumers often make itmisinformation. easier to continue functioning and pulling absorp want what is best for their health and that of their in an income no matter what type of illness orfamilies. injury 2. Eat They are also aware that a lot of false information is out there you experience. and as such, are open to scientific facts that can correct their Being When looking for mobility equipment that will work in an agricultural setting, the following tips may help you select the best option. 1. Work with a company that has products for agricultural uses. There are tons of mobility equipment providers available. However, few of them actually design products that meet the unique needs of the agricultural industry. When selecting the right company for mobility equipment, you can narrow the field by focusing on those with products that are tough enough to withstand heavy use on the farm. 2. Consider your needs, both now and in the future. Unfortunately, accidents and injuries are commonplace on many farms. If you must invest in mobility equipment to help with farm functions, it’s a great idea to purchase equipment that will be useful to meet your current needs as well as equipment that may help you function as you age or experience recurrences with certain conditions. Ailments like chronic pain are common, and it is often worth making an initial investment into equipment that can continue to help you function despite any recurrences or flare-ups.
misconceptions. This provides an opportunity for retail meat departments to implement an instore ‘Healthy Meat Facts’ nutritional campaign to set the record straight and convince their customers that meat and poultry are actually good for one’s health and that they should increase rather than decrease their purchases of it. The campaign outlined below can have a direct impact on sales: Start by displaying instore posters promoting the nutritional value of meat. They should be innovative, eye catching and be designed to specifically contradict any meat myths. The comments should all be literature based quoting research papers or MDs for maximum effect. Various posters should be made - each with a brief but powerful message covering one theme. Posters can convey the following healthy meat fact messages: 1. Let’s IRON out the Truth on Meat! “You would need to eat a massive amount of spinach to equal (the iron content) in a steak,” says Christopher Golden, an ecologist and epidemiologist at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (As quoted by nature.com in the article ‘Brain food- clever eating’.) For a woman to receive her recommended daily intake of 18 mg of iron, she would need just 300 grams of cooked bovine
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FCC: CANADA’S FOOD MANUFACTURERS GROW SALES, DESPITE CHALLENGES Buoyed by pent-up demand and higher prices, Canada’s food manufacturing industry performed well in 2021, according to Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) Annual Food Report. Food manufacturing sales increased 14.8% to more than $125 billion in 2021 and are projected to increase 7.4% in 2022. Last year was the strongest year-overyear sales growth recorded since 1992. “Consumers appeared to unleash strong disposable incomes and accumulated savings during the pandemic in 2021,” said J.P. Gervais, FCC’s chief economist in speaking to this year’s report. “This resulted in increased foodservice volumes that more than offset volume declines at grocery stores.”
In addition, a robust export market contributed to an estimated 36.8% of sales. Overall, Canadian food manufacturing exports grew by 16.9% in 2021, driven by higher prices and strong demand for healthy and high-quality foods. Export growth came from the United States, Mexico, Philippines and South Korea. Conversely, exports to China declined over 16% on lower pork demand. Food imports increased in 2021, albeit growth was at a more modest pace of 3.6%. Most imports came from U.S. suppliers, but also from a diversity of other countries, led by China, Brazil and Italy. The share of domestic consumption of Canadian manufactured food also climbed by almost 2% in 2021, after declining the two previous years. This increase was largely due to a combination of a “buy local” approach by many, as well as increased investments in marketing and operational efficiency by manufacturers.
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Inflation is beginning to diminish the purchasing power of many households and the growth in 2022 will depend on several other factors, such as the evolution of the pandemic and how businesses adapt to interest rate increases and elevated input costs,” Gervais said. “But if the past is any indication of the future, Canada’s food processors will continue to take advantage of the many opportunities that exist amid the many challenges.” The FCC Annual Food Report features insights and analysis on grain and oilseed milling; dairy, meat, sugar, confectionery, bakery and tortilla products; seafood preparation; and fruit, vegetable and specialty foods. “The strong growth we’ve seen in Canada’s food sector is largely a reflection of innovation, resiliency and the ability to quickly adapt to the changing economic environment,” Gervais said. “This has enabled most food manufacturers to overcome significant challenges posed by the pandemic, such as higher input costs, amplified labour shortages and shifting consumer consumption trends.
By sharing agriculture economic knowledge and forecasts, FCC provides solid insights and expertise to help those in the business of agriculture and food achieve their goals. For more economic insights and analysis, visit FCC Economics at fcc.ca/Economics
The report notes that although gross margins improved slightly in 2021, food manufacturers continue to struggle to fully pass on higher labour and material costs. Inflation is also expected to be above the Bank of Canada’s target rate for most of 2022, which will drive interest rate increases.
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CANADA TO INVEST IN POULTRY MARKET DEVELOPMENT Canada's chicken and turkey farmers are known worldwide deliver the highest quality products to Canadians. By supporting industry efforts to grow the domestic turkey and chicken markets, the Government of Canada is has announced it will provide additional funding to help farmers grow their businesses and ensure continued prosperity of Canada's agriculture sector. The Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Francis Drouin announced $3.5 million in funding under the Market Development Program for the Turkey Farmers of Canada and Chicken Farmers of Canada. Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and AgriFood stated, "Following the signing of international agreements, our government committed to providing full and fair compensation to Canada's supplymanaged sectors, and we are delivering on that commitment. These investments enable poultry producers to promote the high quality of their products across Canada and to expand their markets."
Funding through this program will help increase domestic demand and consumption of Canadian turkey and chicken products through industry-led promotional activities that differentiate Canadian products and producers, and leverage Canada's reputation for high quality poultry products. Turkey Farmers of Canada will receive up to $2.5 million to expand Canadian consumer awareness of the benefits of turkey meat as a primary and alternative protein. "We are pleased with this announcement of the Market Development Program for Turkey and Chicken,” said Darren Ference, Chair, Turkey Farmers of Canada The program will go a long way to support the turkey sector's work in reaching consumers, and in promoting the wholesome and high-quality turkey raised by Canadian farmers."
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QUICK FACTS • Over 10 years, the Market Development Program for Turkey and Chicken will provide a total of $19.2 million for the Turkey Farmers of Canada and $25 million for the Chicken Farmers of Canada, totaling more than $44 million in support to improve the sectors' market position. • The program and funding allocations are based on feedback from industry and stakeholder consultations. Chicken Farmers of Canada will receive up to $1 million to promote to Canadians the excellence of Canadian chicken and the commitment of the farmers who raise them to providing safe, high quality chicken. "The Market Development Program for Turkey and Chicken will greatly assist in our sector's continued promotion of the safe, high-quality chicken that farmers raise with care for Canadians. This program will enhance consumer engagement and continue to showcase Canadian-made products to Canadians”, stated Tim Klompmaker, Chair, Chicken Farmers of Canada Funding under the Market Development Program will play a critical role in boosting the competitiveness of the poultry industry, while highlighting the commitment of our farmers to providing the best product for Canadian families. These investments will help ensure continued growth and prosperity for our poultry farmers, who help keep Canada's rural communities strong and vibrant.
• The Government of Canada has committed more than $3 billion to compensate supply-managed sectors impacted by CETA and CPTPP. This includes: • $1.75 billion through the Dairy Direct Payment Program; • $647 million through the Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program; • $292.5 million through the Supply Management Processing Investment Fund; • $250 million through the Dairy Farm Investment Program; • $100 million through the Dairy Processing Investment Fund; and, • $44 million through the Market Development Program for Turkey and Chicken.
The Government of Canada is committed to providing full and fair compensation to supply-managed sectors for market access concessions made under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TransPacific Partnership. Growth for this industry will lead to increased sales and drive economic growth to ensure a resilient agriculture sector.
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RENEWING CONFIDENCE IN CANADIAN AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-BUSINESS Investing in public trust is an important goal for the Next Policy Consumer confidence has been on the minds of farmers and those in agri-business for several years. From overcoming misconceptions about GMOs, agriculture’s impact on climate change, and who is responsible for the rising cost of food; the public’s view on agriculture has been heavily guided by external factors. Research by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) found that 92% of agri-businesses are worried about public misconceptions around agriculture and the impact those misconceptions will have on the sector. Agriculture and the food we produce is an integral part of society. Agriculture is also a key contributor to the Canadian economy. Agriculture Canada notes that the Canadian agriculture and agri-food system generated $139 billion in GDP and employed 2.1 million people in 2021 alone. Canadian farmers produce some of the safest, highest quality food in the world. When asking farmers directly, CFIB found that 99% of them agreed that producing safe and healthy food was important to them. However, some Canadians remain skeptical about the agriculture sector and its practices.
The Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI) released a 2021 Public Trust report that found polarizing results between the provinces. In Saskatchewan for instance, 91% of survey respondents agreed that food production in the province was safe, and 89% had a positive perception of Saskatchewan’s agriculture. In contrast, consumers in British Columbia (B.C.), including those who reported visiting a farm within the last two years, had very low confidence in their provincial farming sector. Only 34% of those consumers strongly agreed that B.C. farmers were trustworthy and reliable, while 31% believed B.C. farmers cared for the animals they raise. The meat sector has had its fair share of public misconception in recent years, especially as animal welfare campaigns and conversations around plantbased diets are on the rise in Canada. The CCFI found that half (52%) of all Canadian consumers are personally concerned about the use of hormones in farm animals, while a third (32%) of consumers are concerned about the use of antibiotics in farm animals. These negative impressions are incredibly alarming and can have serious impacts on the agri-food sector. Continued on page 26
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As the current 5-year Canadian Agricultural Partnership expiry date approaches in 2023, the construction of the Next Policy Framework is already underway. The 5th goal in the renewed framework is improving the resiliency and public trust in the agriculture sector. There are already some initiatives underway that may be worth building on. For example, the federal government started the AgriCommunication Program in 2021; a 3-year, $8 million initiative that focuses on: So, what can be done to combat some of these negative perceptions and increase trust in our agricultural sector? Those in the industry have been working hard to shift the attitude of Canadian consumers by increasing transparency about their farming operations. Agriculture in the Classroom is a great example of an industry non-profit that provides ag-focused teaching materials to educators across the country. In addition, farmers have increasingly reached out to consumers through social media and opened their farms to consumers so they can see where and how their food is produced. However, it is clear government also has a role to play in increasing consumer trust in the agriculture sector.
• Better consumer awareness of Canadian agriculture • Improving sector awareness of consumer perceptions • Aiding in industry’s efforts to endorse environmentally sustainable best practices
“Good long-term policies must fully consider its impacts on the ability of the Canadian food industry to produce excellent quality and safe food for the growing world population. Making policy decisions without taking this into account would bolster false public opinion and damage the long-term health and well-being of Canadians.” – Livestock farmer, Alberta CFIB found that well over half (60%) of farmers supported developing government programs that build public trust in Canadian agriculture. Given the current challenges in global supply chains and increasing concerns around food security, improving public trust in Canada’s agricultural sector is needed. 26
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NOT A MEMBER? JOIN CFIB TODAY FOR MORE HELP AND INFORMATION. • $1.75 billion through the Dairy Direct Payment Program; There is a silver lining; consumer confidence is improving, and Canadians are feeling better about the national food system. The 2021 Public Trust Research Report found nearly half (47%) of Canadians are confident about the overall direction the food system is headed in, an increase of 12% from the 2019 numbers. There is a lot to be proud of in Canadian agriculture. Policymakers have an opportunity in the Next Policy Framework to build on this momentum to grow public trust and confidence in the industry. We hope they are up to the challenge! Share your feedback with CFIB by contacting our Business Help Line at cfib@cfib.ca or call 1-888-2342232.
• $647 million through the Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program; • $292.5 million through the Supply Management Processing Investment Fund; • $250 million through the Dairy Farm Investment Program; • $100 million through the Dairy Processing Investment Fund; and, • $44 million through the Market Development Program for Turkey and Chicken.
Get involved in our campaign to support Bill C-234 to help support farmers and protect our food supply: https://initiatives.cfib-fcei.ca/en-ca/saveourfarms
Taylor Brown is the Policy Analyst, West & Agri-business for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). CFIB is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 95,000 members (6,000 agribusiness members) across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners’ chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca.
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