7 minute read
NEWS BITES
Editor's Note
Keeping up with the waves of change caused by COVID-19 could be a full-time job – but one that few people would want. The impact of the virus has been eye-opening, especially for those who rarely considered the issue of food security. Typical concerns such as extreme weather and crop disease usually occur on a regional or sometimes national scale; instead, the entire world was forced to Popi Bowman MANAGING EDITOR confront its collective vulnerabilities, especially as essential services and the international supply chain were strained by the sudden halt of life as we knew it. The reality hit home in mid-March as grocery stores in Canada, and throughout the world, showed that public awareness had shifted to a sense of panic. Staples such as flour, pasta and beans were sold out. Many people were surprised to discover how quickly our way of life could be disrupted. Now, hopefully the worst is behind us, but what COVID-19 has taught many people (among many things) is they should never take food for granted. The upside is a new wave of interest in community gardens and other food security programs that will ensure we can weather the next storm, virus or otherwise. Watch for our next issue, with an expanded Canadian Food Business section that will look into the current state of the industry, and how it is rapidly changing with our changing world.
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A recent survey of 1,505 Canadians by Angus Reid and Dalhousie University reveals that, during the pandemic lockdown:
83%
ordered food from their favourite restaurant: 64 percent ordered food at least every two weeks, and about 29 percent ordered from restaurants at least once a week
81%
of respondents between the ages of 18 to 34 years old ordered from restaurants, the highest rate among age groups
37% Depending on the province, a range of (Saskatchewan) to
56%
(B.C.) percent of respondents intend to avoid restaurants due to public health concerns
Plant protein production gets a big boost
In June, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced almost $100 million of funding towards the new Winnipeg facility for Merit Functional Foods, a company that was established last year in a joint venture by Burcon NutraScience and three veteran food industry executives. The new company’s high-tech, 94,000-sq.ft. facility is expected to be functional by the end of 2020, becoming the first and only commercial operation that is capable of producing food-grade canola and pea protein.
Merit Functional Foods and Burcon NutraScience announced an agreement with Nestlé in January this year, indicating that Merit would supply novel proteins for use in plant-based foods and beverages. Burcon uses a proprietary, patented extraction and purification technology to produce plant protein, backed by more than two decades of development; the company holds more than 270 patents. For more information about these companies, visit meritfoods.com and burcon.ca.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Featured in the recent Canadian Food Business enewsletter (visit the website to sign up) Heart & Stroke predicts that over the next 25 years, sugary drink consumption in Canada will be responsible for: • More than four million cases of overweight and obesity • Up to 1 million cases of type 2 diabetes • 300,000 Canadians with ischemic heart disease • 100,000 cases of cancer • Almost 40,000 strokes • Over 63,000 deaths
Surplus Food Rescue Program launched to support local initiatives
COVID-19 caused significant disruptions to areas of Canada’s • Over $77 million in funding for the Emergency Processing food system, as it forced the near closure of the restaurant and Fund (EPF), whose objectives include helping companies hospitality industry in Canada and the United States. Some implement changes to safeguard the health and safety of producers across Canada are left with surpluses of quality workers and their families food, while increased demand from grocery stores alone is • $100 million for food banks and local food organizations to not expected to clear the inventory before it spoils. At the help Canadians experiencing food insecurity same time, the pandemic has increased the demand for food • $25 million through Nutrition North to ensure food security from food banks and other food security organizations in for Canada’s most vulnerable communities across Canada. • Travel exemptions for all temporary foreign workers,
To help remedy this food supply crisis, the Honourable including seasonal agricultural workers and fish/seafood Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, workers recently announced the $50 million Surplus Food Rescue • $50 million in funding for the Mandatory Isolation Support Program, which aims to move surplus food commodities such Program for Temporary Foreign Workers to help cover the as potatoes, seafood and meat through the food system as incremental costs associated with the mandatory 14-day efficiently as possible to help vulnerable Canadians. isolation period imposed on visitors to Canada.
Eligible applicants for program funding include for-profit and not-for-profit organizations (industry groups, processors, distributors, food serving agencies, regional and municipal governments and agencies, including schools or school boards) that can demonstrate an ability to handle the full logistical requirements for acquiring, processing, transporting and ensuring shelf-life stability of surplus commodities and delivery to organizations serving vulnerable populations.
Applications are being accepted until July 31 or until all funds are committed, whichever comes first; first priority will be given “The Government of Canada is working around the to products that require immediate clock to respond to the impacts of the COVID-19 on attention due to their high perishability farmers, agri-food businesses and all Canadians. The (potatoes, fresh fish, eggs, etc.). For more pandemic has caused significant fluctuations in food information, visit: agr.gc.ca. demand and supply, resulting in surplus food across
This funding announcement builds on our country. We are working hard to help manage other measures the federal government and redirect this surplus food to those who need it recently introduced to keep Canada’s agri-workforce strong, including: during this difficult time.” – The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Responsible agriculture meets innovative greenhouse technology Lufa Farms is set to unveil the world’s largest urban rooftop farm – the size of three football fields. Located in St-Laurent near Montreal, the greenhouse is Lufa’s fourth commercial rooftop farm. Built on an existing industrial building, the greenhouse features double-paned glass, two energy-saving screens, on-site composting and a process for capturing rainwater in a closed-loop irrigation system. “This rooftop greenhouse will double our growing capacity and allow us to feed two percent of Montreal with fresh, local vegetables. It’s an unbelievable step forward for hyper-local, sustainable urban farming,” says Mohamed Hage, cofounder and CEO.
Avocado-based nutraceutical comes to market
Metavo is a new product created by SP Nutraceuticals and researcher Dr. Paul Spagnuolo, in collaboration with a team of nutritional scientists from the University of Guelph, who identified and isolated a powerful bioactive in avocados. Avocatin B (AvoB) helps maintain normal blood glucose levels and supports healthy metabolism. It is particularly beneficial for those who are looking to manage blood sugar levels, and those who are pre-diabetic, obese or overweight. “AvoB has been scientifically proven to target a root cause of ineffective metabolism which leads to high blood sugar,” says Dr. Spagnuolo. Metavo is available in convenient onthe-go powder sachets and soon-to-be-released capsules. Each lot of avocado powder used to formulate Metavo is tested to ensure a standardized dose of AvoB. metavo.com.
Dr. Spagnuolo in the lab
Fungal pathogens pose great risk to crops
Dr. Will Kay (co-author) with Prof. Sarah Gurr, establishing banana plants for the group's work at Exeter on Panama disease
Research at the University of Exeter in the U.K. has a strong emphasis on understanding fungal plant disease and in developing new ways to protect crops. In an article published by Nature Food this spring, a consortium of world-leading Exeter-based fungal researchers, led by Professor Sarah Gurr and Dr. Helen Fones (UKRI Fellow), has merged their expertise to highlight the threat of fungal disease for food security.
“Over the past centuries, crop diseases have led to the starvation of the people, the ruination of economies and the downfall of governments,” Professor Gurr says. “Today, the threat to plants of fungal infection outstrips that posed by bacterial and viral diseases combined. Indeed, fungal and oomycete diseases have been increasing in severity and … now pose a very serious threat to global food security.”
In 2008, the World Economic Forum (WEF) created the Young Scientists Community, to engage leaders with science and the role it plays in society. This year, WEF recognized 25 exceptional researchers from 14 countries, for being at the forefront of scientific discovery. One Canadian was included: Jennifer Ronholm, an assistant professor at McGill University, is working to strengthen the microbiome of agricultural animals to resist infections in the absence of antibiotics, with the aim of reducing the spread of antimicrobial resistance. She is among 14 women recognized by the WEF in this year's cohort.
