The leverage point to restore balance and reverse Climate Change.
Climate change has been one of those monumental problems that affects us all. It was not until this global pandemic that our collective experience has led to a deeper awareness of the real causes of climate change – our behaviour, lifestyle and our treatment of the planet and all beings on it. Up until now, we have been trashing around trying to talk our way out of climate change through CSR, campaigns, promises of silver bullet solutions, yet still missing the mark of reducing carbon emission by a long shot. Issues around food, starting from agricultural practices, distribution and the consumption, have been gaining a spotlight. We still have a long way to go to create a food system that is equitable and ecologically sound.
“Food systems – which gather all the elements and activities that relate to the production, processing, distribution, preparation and consumption of food – account for up to 37 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions” 1, yet they have been largely gone unaddressed. The grave reality of this statement is starting to hit the home. If we don’t drown or burn, we surely will starve to death. This is already a reality for millions of people globally.
There is still hope. On September 1 2020, UN has released “Food system transformation can avert climate change disaster” report1 bringing forth specific suggestions for governments to include. Climate and nature positive food systems approaches need to be included in government-wide climate change plans: halving food waste, catalyzing a shift towards more plant-rich diets, improving production methods (such as regenerative, carbon-absorbing) and storage facilities, reducing methane emissions from livestock are just a few to consider.
The adoption of the suggested actions can not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also improve biodiversity, food security and public health.
Canada, along with 89% of nations, have developed policies to support regenerative agricultural and other land-use changes. However, very few have a specific plan to create a food system that does not generate so much food waste.
“Canada’s food system is wasteful by design and the costs of that waste — hidden from consumers — are offloaded onto farmers, farm workers, food banks, and the environment. The cost of food production has far exceeded farmers’ gross incomes because highland, fertilizer, and other inputs’ costs have consumed roughly 95 per cent of that income.” states Marc Fawcett-Atkinson in his article “Food — from farm to fork and beyond — may be key to Paris emission goals” 2
Canadian farm debt has doubled since 2000 (pre-pandemic stats). According to Key Small Business statistics published in Nov. 20193, 94% of businesses in agriculture are small businesses. Given the massive debt, small businesses cannot survive in the long-term. As a result, many farmers are closing their doors and selling their land for development. We are yet to see the real effects of the pandemic added to this grim reality.
Canada, along with 89% of nations, have developed policies to support regenerative agricultural and other land-use changes. However, very few have a specific plan to create a food system that does not generate so much food waste.
“Canada’s food system is wasteful by design and the costs of that waste — hidden from consumers — are offloaded onto farmers, farm workers, food banks, and the environment. The cost of food production has far exceeded farmers’ gross incomes because highland, fertilizer, and other inputs’ costs have consumed roughly 95 per cent of that income.” states Marc Fawcett-Atkinson in his article “Food — from farm to fork and beyond — may be key to Paris emission goals” 2
Canadian farm debt has doubled since 2000 (pre-pandemic stats). According to Key Small Business statistics published in Nov. 20193, 94% of businesses in agriculture are small businesses. Given the massive debt, small businesses cannot survive in the long-term. As a result, many farmers are closing their doors and selling their land for development. We are yet to see the real effects of the pandemic added to this grim reality.
The question here remains, how is the government supporting small-medium sized businesses that comprise the backbone of our food system?
In 2019, Canadian federal government launched the Food Policy for Canada, a “roadmap for a healthier and more sustainable food system for Canada” backed by $134.4 million Local Food Infrastructure Fund. It may seem that finally the broken food system is being addressed. At a closer look, $100 million of the budget is set aside for Food banks and national food rescue organizations, with the rest allocated to community-based, non-profit organizations addressing food insecurity. Once again, instead of creating a better food system, we continue to patch the broken, wasteful system that generates so much food waste that it requires 134.4 M to redistribute it to a food insecure population. This very broken food system pays farmers, grocery clerks and cashiers, restaurant workers, and migrant workers less than living wages, who then have to use food programs and food banks to be able to afford both rent and food.
“Waste is a symptom of a problem elsewhere in the system,”2 said Sophia Murphy, the food systems expert from The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Canadian food system is a vicious circle that is merely perpetuated.
Oh Canada, you have missed the mark again! There are no points for trying.
What our small-scale farmers need is an ability to earn living wages, a distribution system that does not require them to become salesperson, marketer, social media expert, hr manager, bookkeeper on top of being a farmer and farm manager. Our small-scale farmers need to be able to purchase their land, have a decent house to live in and be able to send their kids to college. They need support to incorporate regenerative practices, eliminate use of pesticides, herbicides and fossil-fuel based fertilizers in their farming. They are not equipped to deal with bureaucracy of long applications, paying for the externalities caused by a broken food system and the insatiable need for infinite GDP growth. We need to stand behind them and support them in this transition to create a sustainable and accountable food system that is regenerative in its nature.
Food system issues and climate change go hand-in-hand. Reforming our food system can avert climate change disastour. Missing this opportunity can have catastrophic impacts. Let’s rally up together and give support to the ones that need it the most, not the ones with most influence and power.
Eva Greff, Sustainability Consulting
1 Foodsystem transformation can avert climate change disaster, Peter McFeely, Global head of communications, Food, WWF and Keishamaza Rukikaire, Head of News and Media, UNEP
2 Food — from farm to fork and beyond — may be key to Paris emission goals, Marc Fawcett-Atkinson
3 Key Small Business statistics published in Nov. 2019, Government Canada
