Those who manage biosecure livestock barns are careful to have visitors suit up properly, but statistics show employees might not be as careful when entering and leaving barns.

Food safety starts with biosecurity

A University of Montreal study of poultry farms showed biosecurity mistakes can lead to contamination throughout a barn

Glacier FarmMedia – Many food safety issues could be resolved at the farm if people changed their behaviour, a veterinarian told those attending a recent meat conference in Toronto. “Some food safety risks could be better controlled early in the food production chain,” said Manon Racicot. The spread of campylobacter, for example, could be curbed […] Read more


Vineland has developed products such as this automated cucumber sorter.

Federal funds to support agricultural innovation

Funding intended to accelerate automation and digitization in agriculture sector

The federal government continues to fund large agriculture organization networks with the aim to improve automation in the sector. Why it matters: Tech-adoption on the farm is increasingly identified as an opportunity to make Canadian agriculture more competitive. Governments and industry are devoting resources to support this direction. Up to $49.5 million has been pledged, […] Read more

The RiteHeight sensor for sprayer booms has been a success for Greentronics.

Made-in-Ontario technology simplifies crop traceability

The RiteTrace system help to limit paper record-keeping and makes quality assurance easier

Technology developed by an Elmira-based company is breaking new ground in food safety, traceability and crop management for potato growers. RiteTrace is the latest application for the potato industry from Greentronics, which has also developed a boom height control system for potato harvesters that can be used on sprayers, as well as a yield mapping […] Read more

Dan Gardner, consultant and New York Times best-selling author of Risk: The Science and Politics of Fear and co-lead of The Risk Communications practice at TacTix.

How our brains analyze risk may help to open conversation to consumers

Language and method of delivery matter in the ability to overcome emotional responses

Dan Gardner, a New York Times best-selling author, explained at a recent food integrity forum that knowing how the human brain works when analyzing risk can be used to open conversations between producers and consumers. He told those attending the 2019 Canadian Centre for Food Integrity Food System Forum Series, that the consumer is becoming […] Read more


Timothy Caulfield, professor, dedicates his time to debunking the myths in the pop culture versus science debate.

Who should be trusted when it comes to the science of food safety?

The eating habits of consumers are changing and pop culture may be a big reason

Consumers are changing their eating habits, sometimes sparked by health restrictions and ethical reasoning, but misinformation is presenting farmers with their biggest struggle, said a University of Alberta professor. Dr. Timothy Caulfield told the crowd at the recent Canadian Centre for Food Integrity Food System Forum Series, that there is a breakdown in trust happening […] Read more

Why won’t consumers listen?

Why won’t consumers listen?

Farmers have been trying to engage consumers for years — yet the work has had little impact

It happens at farm meetings across Canada. Speakers use words like “engagement” and then talk about how farmers can use Twitter and Facebook to influence people. This has been happening for years at agricultural conferences across Canada. Because of all those presentations, thousands of producers now use social media to connect with consumers and explain […] Read more

corn via blockchain

Ontario farmers make first blockchain system corn sale

An Ontario startup company facilitated the trade of high-DON corn

Some Ontario farmers have used a new grain sales system to sell some of their corn high in DON. Prince Edward County farmers Larry Reynolds and Lloyd Crowe used the Grain Discovery platform to find a new local buyer, confirm the trade and receive payment instantly. Grain Discovery says this is the first corn trade […] Read more


Agriculture leaders, experts, government officials, farmers and academics recently gathered in Gatineau, Que., for a two-day conference to talk about public trust.

Public trust in agriculture declines

A yearly study found that trust declined for the first time in several years

Consumers are taking a dimmer view of the Canadian food system, according to an organization set up to improve the perceptions of Canada’s food industry. The Canadian Centre for Food Integrity found in a large-scale study of adult Canadians, that 36 per cent of consumers felt the food system was headed in the right direction, […] Read more

Jack Bobo has communicated to the public about agriculture technology from within government and industry.

Sorting through science and food messaging

The challenges agriculture has in the acceptance of new technology by the public is a function of resistance to change

In many ways this is the best time in history for the production and safety of food. There are fewer greenhouse gases produced per bushel of corn, with significantly less erosion and half the water of 30 years ago, says Jack Bobo, vice-president of global policy and government affairs for Intrexon, the company that owns […] Read more