When you think back to 2024, what were the most impactful food stories?
The Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University has released its Top 10 list of most impactful food stories that shaped Canada's agri-food landscape.
"The stories that define our food systems this year were more than headlines - they're a mirror reflecting our society's values, challenges, and resilience," says Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Senior Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab. "From rising food insecurity and environmental policies to technological advancements and shifting consumer behaviours, 2024 was a year of both disruption and opportunity."
The top story for 2024 was the record number of food bank visits. It says Canada's food insecurity rate reached an unprecedented 22.9 per cent, driven by soaring prices and inflation, emphasizing the need for stronger social safety nets. Dr. Charlebois says it was not difficult to pick the number one story.
"The working poor is definitely a group that is growing in Canada," says Dr. Charlebois. "People who are working, one, two, three jobs but still don't earn enough to pay for food to feed themselves and their loved ones. So, it's certainly a big, big topic."
Dr. Charlebois says he expects the situation will improve in 2025, noting interest rates are dropping, which will help. Dr. Charlebois says he expects more families to have more money when they show up at the grocery store in 2025.
"In terms of supplying food banks, certainly the one thing we've been advocating for are credit programs to incentivize stakeholders like farmers and processors to give more to food banks," he suggests. "BC and Ontario are good examples of that, where a lot of groups actually do give to food banks and we wish that those types of initiatives would be nationalized."
The rest of the Top 10 list is:
2. Carbon Tax Debate on Food Prices: Controversy over carbon pricing's impact on food costs raised questions about policy effectiveness and food system competitiveness.
3. Potential Tariffs with Donald Trump's Return: The potential for tariffs reignited fears of disruption to Canada's $40 billion agri-food export market to the U.S.
4. Railway, Grain, and Port Disruptions: Labour disputes strained food supply chains and highlighted the need for proactive policies to safeguard logistics infrastructure.
5. Record Food Recalls: High-profile recalls of cucumbers, bakery products, and plant-based beverages raised concerns about food safety in increasingly complex supply chains.
6. GST Holiday Debate: Ottawa's temporary GST holiday on food sparked discussions about its limited impact on affordability and the challenges for retailers.
7. The Rise of GLP-1 Drugs Like Ozempic: The popularity of GLP-1 drugs marked a shift in consumer health trends, with implications for traditional weight-loss programs and healthcare systems.
8. Endorsement of the Grocer Code of Conduct: Canada's "Big Five" grocers adopted the code, aiming to foster fairness and transparency in supplier negotiations.
9. Capital Gains Tax Changes Impacting Farmers: A significant tax increase on farm profits raised concerns about generational succession and industry consolidation.
10. The Loblaw Boycott That Wasn't: Despite online momentum, the boycott targeting major Canadian grocers failed to gain traction but spurred debates on "greedflation" and corporate ethics.
Dr. Charlebois says when compiling this list, they go over the entire year and reflect on things the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University has commented on. He notes the most important criteria they follow is, what story has impacted policy and strategy?
"We do survey our staff, and different Canadians, asking them what do they think is the top story," says Dr. Charlebois. "Often our stories are not necessarily about popularity but about influence and impact."
He adds that this year's stories highlight the urgent need to address food affordability and security while balancing innovation and tradition in our agri-food systems. Dr. Charlebois says the Agri-Food Analytics Lab remains committed to providing evidence-based insights to inform public discourse and policy making.