Headline: Climate Chaos: Extreme Weather Events Threatening Canada’s Food Supply Chain
In a world where weather patterns are increasingly erratic, experts are sounding the alarm on the impact of extreme weather events on Canada’s food supply chain. Frank Scali, vice-president of industry affairs at Food, Health & Consumer Products Of Canada, warns that fires, floods, heat waves, and droughts are driving up costs all the way to grocery store shelves.
The frequency and intensity of these extreme weather events are on the rise not only in Canada but globally. A report from the federal government in 2019 projected continuing temperature increases driven by human activities, alongside rising precipitation levels. Amanda Norris, senior economist at Farm Credit Canada, highlights that weather plays a crucial role in food production, affecting not just the quantity of food but also the spread of pests and diseases.
These disruptions can ripple through the entire supply chain, with damaged infrastructure from floods altering transportation routes and impacting the movement of products. Shortages caused by extreme weather can lead to hikes in food prices if demand outstrips supply, as observed in a recent report from the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute.
The agricultural industry has faced a series of challenges, including climate change-induced disasters like major flooding in British Columbia and droughts affecting crop yield in Saskatchewan. While changes in agricultural practices can improve resilience, extreme weather events can still cause significant damage.
Furthermore, disruptions in other parts of the world can have far-reaching consequences, affecting input costs and commodity prices globally. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in supply chains, prompting companies to reassess their strategies to mitigate risks, but challenges persist in ensuring stable and affordable food supplies.
The recent fires in Western Canada causing rail line closures are a stark reminder of the vulnerability of transportation systems to climate-related events. Canadians may see price hikes and shortages of certain food items due to extreme weather events, evidenced by past instances such as lettuce, cocoa, and orange juice shortages linked to weather disasters.
With ongoing geopolitical conflicts complicating the situation, the future of Canada’s food supply chain remains uncertain. As Michelle Wasylyshen from the Retail Council of Canada warns, extreme heat in Western Canada and the U.S., coupled with global conflicts like the situation in Ukraine, could further disrupt food prices in the coming months. The call to action is clear: the time to address the vulnerabilities in our food supply chain is now.
Contact CBC at P.O. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5
In a world where weather patterns are increasingly erratic, experts are sounding the alarm on the impact of extreme weather events on Canada’s food supply chain. Frank Scali, vice-president of industry affairs at Food, Health & Consumer Products Of Canada, warns that fires, floods, heat waves, and droughts are driving up costs all the way to grocery store shelves.
The frequency and intensity of these extreme weather events are on the rise not only in Canada but globally. A report from the federal government in 2019 projected continuing temperature increases driven by human activities, alongside rising precipitation levels. Amanda Norris, senior economist at Farm Credit Canada, highlights that weather plays a crucial role in food production, affecting not just the quantity of food but also the spread of pests and diseases.
These disruptions can ripple through the entire supply chain, with damaged infrastructure from floods altering transportation routes and impacting the movement of products. Shortages caused by extreme weather can lead to hikes in food prices if demand outstrips supply, as observed in a recent report from the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute.
The agricultural industry has faced a series of challenges, including climate change-induced disasters like major flooding in British Columbia and droughts affecting crop yield in Saskatchewan. While changes in agricultural practices can improve resilience, extreme weather events can still cause significant damage.
Furthermore, disruptions in other parts of the world can have far-reaching consequences, affecting input costs and commodity prices globally. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in supply chains, prompting companies to reassess their strategies to mitigate risks, but challenges persist in ensuring stable and affordable food supplies.
The recent fires in Western Canada causing rail line closures are a stark reminder of the vulnerability of transportation systems to climate-related events. Canadians may see price hikes and shortages of certain food items due to extreme weather events, evidenced by past instances such as lettuce, cocoa, and orange juice shortages linked to weather disasters.
With ongoing geopolitical conflicts complicating the situation, the future of Canada’s food supply chain remains uncertain. As Michelle Wasylyshen from the Retail Council of Canada warns, extreme heat in Western Canada and the U.S., coupled with global conflicts like the situation in Ukraine, could further disrupt food prices in the coming months. The call to action is clear: the time to address the vulnerabilities in our food supply chain is now.
Contact CBC at P.O. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5
