One hundred years ago, Canadians were devoting more than one-third of their earnings to putting food on their tables. Thanks to the invention and implementation of massive food sector innovations throughout the 20th century, that figure steadily shrank to less than 20 per cent by 1970, coming all the way down to 10 per cent by 2010. Food security and overall standards of living improved for each successive generation as food continually became a smaller portion of the family budget. Until now.
Food cost inflation is exacerbated by daunting logistical challenges throughout the food system. For example, Canada’s food and beverage sector is dealing with soaring input costs and labour shortages as a generation of skilled workers approaches retirement. Additionally, unfathomable quantities of food are wasted at every step of the food supply chain.
is Canada’s fastest-growing food business community with over 5,000 members representing every link in the food value chain. We know technological adoption will help combat food inflation because every day we see incredible solutions that are helping our members to find more margin.
has proven that innovation thrives when there is a density of ideas. By bringing food professionals together, ideas evolve and synergize into novel solutions that would never otherwise have come about. We have seen this network effect accelerate technological progress among the early adopters of ’s community and the more than 70 projects we’ve invested in since 2021. Combating food inflation is both an economic and moral imperative—we can no longer afford to approach the problem piecemeal. By championing a policy agenda that fosters collaboration and technological innovation, policymakers will help us to build an affordable and dynamic food sector—one where the promise of technology fuels progress and continued prosperity for successive generations of Canadians.