Jason Newton, chief economist and head of market research with Nutrien, provides a global crop market outlook to delegates attending the International Farm Management Association Congress in Saskatoon.

Global crop yields don’t match increasing demand

Sluggish production blamed on adverse weather conditions and high input costs that lead to reduced fertilizer use

Glacier FarmMedia – Rising demand and below-trend yields are causing tightness in the global supply of major crops, says one of the world’s largest crop input suppliers. Why it matters: Yields have lagged the usual trend for the past four years, leading to a tight global grain supply. The global stocks-to-use ratio for major crops, […] Read more

U.S. President Joe Biden, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stand together on the first day of the G7 summit, in Savelletri, Italy, June 13, 2024. Photo: Reuters/Yara Nardi/File Photo

G7 leaders launch initiative for global food security

Bari, Italy | Reuters – Group of Seven leaders have pledged to step up efforts against global malnutrition, according to a draft statement on Friday that noted Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had “aggravated” the world’s food problems. The G7 Apulia Food Systems Initiative (AFSI) – named after the Southern Italian region hosting the leaders’ summit – will […] Read more

Photo: SDI Productions/iStock/Getty Images Plus

National school food program announced

Federal government says program aims to start with 2024/25 school year

The federal government plans to spend over $1 billion over five years on a national school food program that will feed an additional 400,000 school-aged children a year.

We are in a battle with food inflation not seen for decades, and households with the lowest incomes are the hardest hit.

Editorial: Food Freedom Day needs a rethink

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) recognized its annual ‘Food Freedom Day’ on February 9, the day the organization says a Canadian household of average income will have earned enough to pay for their entire year’s grocery bill. Surprisingly, it fell on the exact same day it did last year. This was rather puzzling to me because like […] Read more


Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Parliamentary Ag Secretary Jean-Claude Poissant, at right, visited the Carrefour Alimentaire Centre-Sud in Montreal on June 17, 2019 to formally launch the federal Food Policy for Canada. in 2019 (Photo courtesy Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Feds disburse funds on community food security projects

Since 2019 the Local Food Infrastructure Fund has committed $64.8 million to such projects

Wednesday, federal agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay announced up to $9.98 million in funding for community food projects through the fifth phase of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund, an outworking of the Food Policy for Canada.

People gather around trucks carrying humanitarian aid that entered the Gaza Strip from Egypt via the Rafah border crossing on October 21, 2023. The first of 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered the war-torn and besieged Gaza Strip on October 21 through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, said AFP correspondents on both sides. Photo: Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto.

Global hunger stalled well above pre-pandemic levels

Intersecting crises of conflict, climate and economics have hit struggling communities hard says Foodgrains Bank

The number of people experiencing hunger around the world remains far higher than pre-pandemic levels, but is still "significantly better" than 20 years ago, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank says.

A farmer in China piles wheat.  Photo: Reuters/File

China to push for higher grain yields to ensure food security

Chinese corn breeders are preparing to double the amount of GMO corn planted next year

China, the world's top buyer of soy and corn, will push for higher grain yields across large areas of farmland as it seeks to ensure food security for its huge population, state media reported on Wednesday, citing an annual rural policy meeting.


Some consumers are becoming angry and frustrated about high food prices, and they’re looking for someone to blame.

Editorial: Concern over grocery prices no joke

The issue of soaring grocery prices was the subject of a hilarious skit on the Canadian comedy television show This Hour has 22 Minutes earlier this month. In the skit, a woman is seen going up to a cash register at a grocery store with a basketful of ingredients for a charcuterie board, which she […] Read more

A new automated systems is using artificial intelligence and automation to take the guesswork out of indoor berry production.

Challenge aimed to improve Canada’s food security

Seven Ontario teams have moved to the next phase of Homegrown Innovation Challenge

Canada is known as a leading world producer of many staple crops like wheat, lentils, peas and canola, as well as a global exporter of animal proteins like pork and beef. The same can’t be said for many horticultural crops, except for greenhouse vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, due to nature of the climate. […] Read more