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
Tag Archives food safety
Food safety starts with biosecurity
A University of Montreal study of poultry farms showed biosecurity mistakes can lead to contamination throughout a barn
Safety advocates sound alarm over new U.S. hog slaughter rules
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. food safety and the health of plant workers will be at risk from new federal rules that allow meat companies to slaughter hogs as fast as they want and shift the role of government inspectors, food and environmental advocates said on Tuesday. The warnings about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s […] Read more
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
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
