Canadian Food Business
CANADA COULD MOVE FROM BEING ONE OF THE TOP 20 NET FOOD EXPORTING COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD TO BEING ONE OF THE TOP FIVE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WHILE ADDRESSING THE LEGITIMATE NEEDS OF CANADIANS FOR SAFE, HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE FOOD ACCORDING TO THE CONFERENCE BOARD OF CANADA.
The organization’s Canadian Food Strategy, unveiled at the third Canadian Food Summit 2014, is a blueprint for change in the food sector.
“The food sector already contributes more than eight per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product and is directly responsible for hundreds of thousands of jobs. But it can become even more successful if our producers capture a larger share of the growing international food market, said Michael Bloom, Vice-President, Industry and Business Strategy. “Taken as a whole, the food sector has the potential to be among the foremost export industries for Canada.”
The Canadian Food Strategy outlines several action items that could make Canada a food-exporting superpower.
• Expand presence in existing and emerging markets, including new markets.
• Link aid and trade to address the challenge of global food security.
• Negotiate multilateral and bilateral free trade agreements to improve exporters’ access to international markets.
• Develop high-quality national, provincial, and regional food brands and product specializations for wide sale internationally.
• Build a Canada Brand to reinforce food brands and products using positive images of Canada’s natural environment and culture and our reputation for product quality and safety.
The strategy sets out eight goals and more than 60 desired outcomes, and provides 110 action strategies that can help to achieve them.
