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Here in Slovakia, subsidies are also an issue. The country has experienced an incredible structural evolution of its agricultural system since the fall of Communism almost twenty years ago.   It often comes up as an issue widely expected to spark future wars and dominate human consciousness some day – much the way oil currently occupies our thoughts and drains our wallets. And for some, the lack of water is already a pressing problem. Guelph Mercury, August 01, 2008 The global food crisis is starting to hit home. Even here in Ontario where a strong farming sector produces an abundance of top quality food and exports much of it to other countries, higher food prices are becoming a fact of life. The growth of renewable fuels — especially ethanol whose main ingredient is corn — and the concept of growing plants for fuel instead of food are being pegged as the number 1 reason behind the rising food costs. This corn, the argument goes, is corn that should be going to feed people and not cars. The following editorial was published in the Waterloo Region Record on Friday August 1. Farmers doing more than their fair share for the environment Food and farming are never far from the collective consciousness of Waterloo Region. After all, we’re home to one of the most diverse agricultural areas in the province and our farmers’ markets – especially the market in St Jacobs – are popular destinations where we’ve been proponents of eating local food and supporting local farmers long before it became widely popular.
The following editorial was published in the Guelph Mercury as a guest column July 18, 2008: http://news.guelphmercury.com/Opinions/article/356131 ****** Our provincial government recently announced four million dollars of funding to put more Ontario food on our tables by supporting farmers markets and roadside produce stands. As a consumer in this era of food safety scares, environmental concerns and escalating costs, there is something very reassuring to me about buying high quality food produced by our farmers. The fact that by doing so we’re also supporting Ontario’s farming economy and helping to keep jobs in our province is an added feel good. Continue reading Farmers need real support An editorial in the Toronto Star today made me stop and think once again about the disconnect between those of us in agriculture and those who aren’t. According to the Star editorial, one of the solutions to the global food crisis is for rich nations like Canada to produce more food. On the surface, that seems simple enough. But let’s consider some simple truths: Continue reading Solving the food crisis? |   | ||||
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The topic of subsidies is always a heated one in the farming world. Canadian farmers claim the Americans get too much support from their government. The Americans claim they need more to keep up with what the European governments give their farmers…and on and on it goes.
The food vs fuel debate is raging in Canada these days as consumers face rising food prices around the world. Some are pointing the finger at biofuels, in particular ethanol, which is made mostly from corn. This corn, the argument goes, is corn that should be going to feed people, and not cars.