One country is trying to reduce its exposure to global shocks. The other is turning political influence into another financial product. That’s a much bigger story than this month’s inflation numbers.
I never understood why we weren't investing in vertical farming. Grow food where the people are in an environment where you have control over every aspect. Grow indoors, all year, less need for pesticides. More automation, requires less labour intensive harvesting. The list goes on and on.
Vertical farming won't replace traditional agriculture, but it can make us far less vulnerable to droughts, trade disputes, and supply chain disruptions.
The closer we grow food to where Canadians live, the more control we have over both supply and prices.
I'm not saying we do away with traditional farming but as populations grow we can't keep allocating more and more land to agriculture. It's not sustainable.
Also the North. I am so pleased to see people there exploring ways to produce food locally instead of the awful overpriced fly in garbage. I m sure vertical must offer amazing creativity to what can be produced there.
I think the argument used to be "that it was more expensive." But I don't think that's the case anymore, given all the supply chain disruptions since COVID. And, there's the simple matter general food security (which we also found wanting during COVID). If something happens where the supply chain doesn't work at all, where are you getting your food?
Multiple sources is a good strategy in food as well as economics. Even old and decrepit, I still grow pots of herbs and greens and cherry tomatoes in the summer sun. Romaine and mixed lettuces supplement and support commercial produce every day. Forage and garden where you can. Alternative markets and local farmers. Look at food as something we can control not just grab factory products from the big rip off stores who lie and overcharge.
There are other things we could do better. I gave up meat in the 90s but understand that s not for everyone. However there are other sources of protein and nutrition than animal. And tofu is working too hard there. I use paneer a lot these days and it picks up and enriches any flavours. I d love to do an Indian/Canadian fusion cookbook with someone, our typical dishes taste really good when prepared right. Also there are old stand bys we ve forgotten. Buckwheat. It s amazing and i understand very easy to grow. Delicious nutritious, simple to prepare and good for the digestion. Just to start.
Only one thing I would add to the "that leaves us vulnerable every time a drought . . . . ." sentence: " . . . or inspection system failure." Before, they would have caught Screwworm before it got anywhere close to their herds, and they were actively monitoring for Cyclospora (rather than chasing their tails right now, forensically, trying to piece together what happened in the system)
So now, we can't tell with reasonable confidence what's safe to eat, if it's been imported -- even IF the supply chain is working!
This isn't to say that we couldn't have similar failures here, but at least if we do, we can control what to do about it. These days, if we complained about it, they would throw on another tariff for our insolence!
That's a great point Grant. Considering that the USA has scrapped most of their programs that safeguard their food sources, and most everything else, Canadians would be wise to avoid eating anything that is produced in Merica. Just another good reason to boycott everything that comes from that autocracy.
There’s a vertical farm in Calgary, Good Leaf Farms, which is showing up in the grocery stores in my area, about a six hour drive away from the farm. That’s as local as I can get short of my own backyard or the Farmers Market in season.
I mention it, because I’d tried it out when I first saw it back in April. It’s delicious, incredibly fresh, excellent variety and the shelf life is quite amazing. A little research on the website on how it’s grown, it’s environmental and hygienic approach, and the footprint was impressive.
Vertical farming definitely has my vote and I’m happy to see this approach is part of the government investment. Chuckle: I just gave Good Leaf a glowing review didn’t I?
That's exactly how new ideas gain traction... people try them, discover the quality is there, and keep buying.
If vertical farms can produce fresh food closer to where Canadians live while reducing imports, that's a win for consumers and for Canada's food security.
Actually I looked at their decription bumf and it seems they started right here in Nova Scotia! Branched to Calgary plus Montreal and Guelph in the best Goin Down The Road tradition. Really good news story. Now I must persuade them that everyone will love mache once they try it.
mild, sightly nutty, small leaves but I find it a very satisfying flavour in salad. Almost addictive, hence my craving it what it s rarely available. have tried to grow it with varying success. not sure my climate is right. It s small, doesnt keep well, best in spring but if anyone could make it work, sounds like Good Leaf could. Popular in France so they must know.
Thank you for this breakdown. It is appalling in any circumstances.Yes indeed this is one area of interdependence we need to stamp out right a damn way, and can we do it? Of course. I know because I grew up with part home grown and or processed( everybody did it), part home collected( much meat came from the woods), and part the Dominion store.
We went over the border periodically for unusual treats like Tang and more chocolate bars and those amazing cheap fast food mixes. Of course gas was much cheaper there too. And molasses came from Barbados on ships that docked at Saint John NB. I m pretty sure in today s world, we can substitute imports, in fact already I prefer South African fragrant citrus to Florida’s. I m very much looking forward to exchanging other products with Europeans who have much higher standards of purity and quality than America uses, plus their breads and cheeses and condiments and cookware. Opening up other parts of the world to collect products and techniques that newcomers are sharing.
It s exciting that we re looking at fresh technology and products, we should have been doing decades ago. We need to actually upgrade and enforce our food standards too because we ve let that slip in the 21st century though we re still ahead of the US, that s not a high bar. We must protect our dairy at all costs, we re just starting to see what happens when that s allowed to be contaminated.
There s only one product from the US that I ve not been able to replace or do without this past year and I think we already have a small producer though it s not available where I live. Peanuts. I use a lot of peanut butter and my too tame wild birds have come to depend on them. They get purified before administering but I d rather get them from elsewhere. Surely they ll grow here now in our changing climate. whatever we didnt use to grow might thrive in coming years. Even olives.
Great idea! Canada has the expertise, energy and space. Another upside is that these vertical farms of varying sizes, across the country can perhaps finally break the current monopoly in retail food.
I never understood why we weren't investing in vertical farming. Grow food where the people are in an environment where you have control over every aspect. Grow indoors, all year, less need for pesticides. More automation, requires less labour intensive harvesting. The list goes on and on.
I agree, Eric.
Vertical farming won't replace traditional agriculture, but it can make us far less vulnerable to droughts, trade disputes, and supply chain disruptions.
The closer we grow food to where Canadians live, the more control we have over both supply and prices.
That's resilience.
I'm not saying we do away with traditional farming but as populations grow we can't keep allocating more and more land to agriculture. It's not sustainable.
Also the North. I am so pleased to see people there exploring ways to produce food locally instead of the awful overpriced fly in garbage. I m sure vertical must offer amazing creativity to what can be produced there.
I think the argument used to be "that it was more expensive." But I don't think that's the case anymore, given all the supply chain disruptions since COVID. And, there's the simple matter general food security (which we also found wanting during COVID). If something happens where the supply chain doesn't work at all, where are you getting your food?
Exactly, Grant.
COVID exposed just how fragile "just-in-time" supply chains really are.
Once you factor in disruptions, tariffs, transportation costs, and food security...
growing more food at home starts looking less like an expense and more like an insurance policy.
Multiple sources is a good strategy in food as well as economics. Even old and decrepit, I still grow pots of herbs and greens and cherry tomatoes in the summer sun. Romaine and mixed lettuces supplement and support commercial produce every day. Forage and garden where you can. Alternative markets and local farmers. Look at food as something we can control not just grab factory products from the big rip off stores who lie and overcharge.
Well said, Bev.
You don't need acres of land to become a little more self-reliant.
A few pots of herbs, tomatoes, or lettuce won't feed the whole family, but they reconnect us with where food comes from...
and make us a little less dependent on fragile supply chains.
Every little bit adds up.
There are other things we could do better. I gave up meat in the 90s but understand that s not for everyone. However there are other sources of protein and nutrition than animal. And tofu is working too hard there. I use paneer a lot these days and it picks up and enriches any flavours. I d love to do an Indian/Canadian fusion cookbook with someone, our typical dishes taste really good when prepared right. Also there are old stand bys we ve forgotten. Buckwheat. It s amazing and i understand very easy to grow. Delicious nutritious, simple to prepare and good for the digestion. Just to start.
Good article, Fred.
Only one thing I would add to the "that leaves us vulnerable every time a drought . . . . ." sentence: " . . . or inspection system failure." Before, they would have caught Screwworm before it got anywhere close to their herds, and they were actively monitoring for Cyclospora (rather than chasing their tails right now, forensically, trying to piece together what happened in the system)
So now, we can't tell with reasonable confidence what's safe to eat, if it's been imported -- even IF the supply chain is working!
This isn't to say that we couldn't have similar failures here, but at least if we do, we can control what to do about it. These days, if we complained about it, they would throw on another tariff for our insolence!
That's a great point Grant. Considering that the USA has scrapped most of their programs that safeguard their food sources, and most everything else, Canadians would be wise to avoid eating anything that is produced in Merica. Just another good reason to boycott everything that comes from that autocracy.
Thanks, Grant.
That's an excellent point.
Food security isn't just about having enough food... it's also about trusting the inspection system behind it.
When oversight weakens, every imported product carries a little more uncertainty.
Producing more at home gives us more than supply; it gives us accountability.
And if something goes wrong, at least Canadians are the ones fixing it.
There’s a vertical farm in Calgary, Good Leaf Farms, which is showing up in the grocery stores in my area, about a six hour drive away from the farm. That’s as local as I can get short of my own backyard or the Farmers Market in season.
I mention it, because I’d tried it out when I first saw it back in April. It’s delicious, incredibly fresh, excellent variety and the shelf life is quite amazing. A little research on the website on how it’s grown, it’s environmental and hygienic approach, and the footprint was impressive.
Vertical farming definitely has my vote and I’m happy to see this approach is part of the government investment. Chuckle: I just gave Good Leaf a glowing review didn’t I?
😄 You certainly did, Barb!
And firsthand experience counts for a lot.
That's exactly how new ideas gain traction... people try them, discover the quality is there, and keep buying.
If vertical farms can produce fresh food closer to where Canadians live while reducing imports, that's a win for consumers and for Canada's food security.
We get their greens here in the Maritimes and that s my go to brand now. Excellent quality. If I could just persuade them to add mache.
They have an amazing variety of things, and because of it, I think they like to mix it up a bit. You might just get your mache yet.
Actually I looked at their decription bumf and it seems they started right here in Nova Scotia! Branched to Calgary plus Montreal and Guelph in the best Goin Down The Road tradition. Really good news story. Now I must persuade them that everyone will love mache once they try it.
Haha - I had to look it up, as I haven’t heard of it. What does it taste like?
mild, sightly nutty, small leaves but I find it a very satisfying flavour in salad. Almost addictive, hence my craving it what it s rarely available. have tried to grow it with varying success. not sure my climate is right. It s small, doesnt keep well, best in spring but if anyone could make it work, sounds like Good Leaf could. Popular in France so they must know.
Good news on all fronts Fred! I LOVE fresh vegetables, fruits & berries. I miss all the markets in Simcoe for that reason!
Thank you for this breakdown. It is appalling in any circumstances.Yes indeed this is one area of interdependence we need to stamp out right a damn way, and can we do it? Of course. I know because I grew up with part home grown and or processed( everybody did it), part home collected( much meat came from the woods), and part the Dominion store.
We went over the border periodically for unusual treats like Tang and more chocolate bars and those amazing cheap fast food mixes. Of course gas was much cheaper there too. And molasses came from Barbados on ships that docked at Saint John NB. I m pretty sure in today s world, we can substitute imports, in fact already I prefer South African fragrant citrus to Florida’s. I m very much looking forward to exchanging other products with Europeans who have much higher standards of purity and quality than America uses, plus their breads and cheeses and condiments and cookware. Opening up other parts of the world to collect products and techniques that newcomers are sharing.
It s exciting that we re looking at fresh technology and products, we should have been doing decades ago. We need to actually upgrade and enforce our food standards too because we ve let that slip in the 21st century though we re still ahead of the US, that s not a high bar. We must protect our dairy at all costs, we re just starting to see what happens when that s allowed to be contaminated.
There s only one product from the US that I ve not been able to replace or do without this past year and I think we already have a small producer though it s not available where I live. Peanuts. I use a lot of peanut butter and my too tame wild birds have come to depend on them. They get purified before administering but I d rather get them from elsewhere. Surely they ll grow here now in our changing climate. whatever we didnt use to grow might thrive in coming years. Even olives.
Bev, you've lived through the transition, so your perspective carries weight.
Canada has always adapted...
We've just gotten too comfortable relying on someone else to fill the shelves.
Diversifying our food sources, growing more at home, and trading with a wider range of trusted partners isn't about closing ourselves off.
It's about giving ourselves options.
And I smiled at the peanut confession.
If that's the last thing keeping you tied to U.S. imports, I'd say you're doing pretty well. 😊
There are peanut farms in Ontario and producers of peanut products
I just heard, thanks. Must figure out how to get them here!
Great idea! Canada has the expertise, energy and space. Another upside is that these vertical farms of varying sizes, across the country can perhaps finally break the current monopoly in retail food.