Musings


By Fred Steele


Adapting to change essential for farmers Agriculture’s transition to sustainable and profitable faces some serious roadblocks.


roadblocks to progress: • We need more


remember saying three years ago the days of cheap food were over. The truth of that statement seems ever clearer.


I


Governments are paying more attention to food production. They once viewed food as a commodity sold in bulk. Today, food is seen both as a key to sustainability and as an asset with value for export. Our provincial and federal governments want farms to succeed so we may have food security at home, and also improve our economy by exporting. For the farmer, a two-tier system is developing. Those who adapt to new marketing strategies and technology advancement, change varieties to sustain profitability and ensure the crops they grow come to grips with food safety will meet new consumer demands.


Those who ignore our changing world will be left behind, unable to compete.


Our challenge as growers working through their associations is to ensure these changes are practical and sensible at the farm level. The question becomes, how do we keep up with change and adapt to it together?


Good news, hope and optimism is everywhere, but especially in the nation’s capital. Here are some of the headlines from The Hill Times Policy Briefing: Agriculture, Nov. 14, 2016:


• Agriculture Minister MacAulay eyes opening the China market. • Canadian agriculture strong and growing


• Canada sits on food sector goldmine


• Value added agriculture much more than wheat and potatoes Those headlines reflect the optimism; however, there are some significant impediments that pose


8 British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Winter 2016-17


resources for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to help it open markets in a timely manner. • We need to


address obstacles in


areas of interprovincial trade. • We need business, bankers and governments to collaborate in renewal of infrastructure. • We need to educate consumers about how connected urbanites are to agriculture.


• We need to mitigate the myths surrounding how food is produced. • We need to develop agri-tourism as an educational tool and a satisfying food experience. So how do we meet the demand for change and keep the positive


road open? Farmers are replanting and


engaging in more efficient methods of growing a better product. Companies are responding with changes to their product to meet health conscious demands. We are engaging with public by being proactive when it comes to transparency.


As an industry we are responding to be more environmentally conscious.


More and more we are understanding food safety is cumbersome but it is necessary. One of the biggest indicators is the consumer response to demands of the fast food industry. All of a sudden ‘healthy’ foods and changes to formulations reflect new consumer demands. Even in regular restaurants, ‘gluten free’ is only a few years in the making, but has


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