Food strategy long overdue

The only bad thing one can say about the Canadian Federation of Agriculture's recent decision to plow ahead with development of a national food strategy is that it waited until its 75th birthday to do it.

For far too long in this country, farmers have relied on someone else -- usually governments -- to come up with a vision for their industry.

The visions that have emerged have typically been fiscal in nature, with an emphasis on agriculture's contribution to the export economy, job creation and value-added industry.

All of those are important. But these visions have also tended to marginalize the primary producers' role as well as their communities' contribution to the social fabric of this country. The focus has been on productivity, which seems to come at the expense of producer profitability and environmental sustainability.

As well, these visions have -- until recently -- completely ignored the link between farming, food and the nation's health.

Yet farm groups, although unwilling to tackle the task themselves, have historically balked at efforts by non-government organizations to take it on for fear of hidden agendas.

But the CFA, which is the umbrella organization for dozens of regional farm-policy groups across the country, was given the go-ahead at its recent annual meeting to lead the development of a national strategy in collaboration with other farm groups, government, consumers, food processors and distributors.

"Canada does not have a food strategy. We have a myriad of disjointed policies and programs," said CFA first vice-president Grant Etsell in a recent commentary. "There is no particular objective, no vision and no stated intention of the programs.

"In our age of global instability, a nation should have a strategy to ensure its citizens will have food tomorrow and beyond. Canada needs to develop a strategy that will focus on and create a demand, both domestically and internationally, for high-quality Canadian product."

This dovetails nicely with the notion of a Canadian Diet promoted by the Canadian Agri-Policy Institute -- a local version of the Mediterranean Diet famous for its wholesome, natural and healthy attributes.

Zeroing in on the World Health Organization's estimate that at least 40 per cent of cancer and 80 per cent of premature heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes could be prevented through a healthy diet as part of a healthy lifestyle, CAPI says it's time agriculture and health policy started working in tandem.

"Health and agri-food policies must support each other to address health challenges and create economic opportunities for the agri-food sector," said CAPI president David McInnes.

"Going forward, the Canadian agri-food sector needs to become an advocate for a better diet and the health community needs to become an advocate for a viable Canadian agri-food sector."

It gets better.

A new study commissioned by the Manitoba Agri-Health Research Network Inc (MAHRN) is suggesting that just as Florida produces oranges, and Italy produces olive oil, commonly produced Manitoba crops have distinct climate-induced nutritional qualities that can't be matched elsewhere.

"Some research has shown that crops grown in more northern latitudes such as the Canadian Prairies produce higher levels of key health constituents. Hence a diet that incorporates such crops has been coined the 'Canadian Climate Advantaged Diet' (CCAD)," the study reports.

Both the commonly produced crops reviewed -- canola, flaxseed, pulses (legumes like beans, or peas), whole grains and potatoes as well as the not-so-common crops such as hemp, buckwheat, saskatoons and other berries, are all associated with scientifically substantiated health benefits.

"Strong scientific support is demonstrated in the area of cardiovascular disease risk reduction and the consumption of canola oil, whole grains, oat and barley soluble fibre, and in the area of whole grains and diabetes.

Not surprisingly, it recommends more research as well as efforts to promote healthy lifestyles and increased marketing to promote how locally produced food can contribute.

The outcome may not only be reduced health-care costs but increased marketing opportunities for Manitoba-grown foods both at home and abroad. Both make for a healthier and wealthier nation.

The MAHRN report reiterates the CFA's concern, that Canada needs a strategic plan for food and health.

With farm organizations now onside, that work can proceed. There are many voices that will want to be heard as part of this process. But it's about time we all starting talking about it.

Laura Rance is editor of the Manitoba Co-operator. She can be reached at 792-4382 or by email: laura@fbcpublishing.com

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 27, 2010 B9