War ups fertilizer prices

Reuters news agency said the world’s farmers face soaring fertilizer and fuel prices as the war in the Middle East escalates, leaving some scrambling for supplies as the spring planting season approaches.

The war, which has closed the Strait of Hormuz, has shut down fertilizer plants in the region and severely disrupted shipping routes, potentially curbing supplies to key importers around the world .

Europe. China, India and Australia will likely be more impacted by fertilizer shortages for this year’s planting season than farmers in Canada and the United States. Their suppliers either produce on the continent or have most of their imported stocks en route or in place.

Shipments from the Middle East are likely to drop not only because transit through the Strait of Hormuz has all but stopped, but also due to cuts in production.

Qatar Energy has had to stop production at the world’s largest single-site urea plant, as it lost its source of natural gas feedstock after the company shut down gas output due to attacks on its LNG facilities.

At the same time, sulfur output has been cut in other parts of the Middle East.

Quebec cheese curds are special

 

Quebec’s cheese curds used to make poutine are special, according to the Conseil des Industriels laitiers du Quebec.

It is seeking a protected geographical indication which is somewhat like a trademark.

The most famous product with that status is champagne from a specific region within France. No other wine can legitimately call itself champagne.

Quebec has the designation for its ice wine, for Neuville sweet corn and Charlevoix lamb.

The province needs to be persuaded to grant the designation for cheese curds used to make poutine.

Alberta producers want their own traceability

 

Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) voted to have their own traceability program because they don’t like the changes the federal government is rolling out.

They said during their annual meeting that they support traceability because it’s important in the case of a disease outbreak, but they said the Canadian Food Inspection’s proposals create significant challenges for beef producers and ABP cannot support them in their current form.  

Canada Packers posts first results

 

Canada Packers Inc., a pork business spun off last year by Maple Leaf Foods Inc., posted a profit of $23.2 million on sales of $429.4 million.

For the same period last year, its division profit was $50.6 million on sales of $424 million.

Mental health becomes tribunal hearing issue

 

The mental health of a dairy farmer battling the Dairy Farmers of Ontario marketing board became a central issue in an appeal tribunal hearing Wednesday.

Geoff Spurr, lawyer for the marketing board. sought an adjournment until the appellants can present a doctor’s opinion that they are able to withstand the pressure of cross-examination.

Spurr said he doesn’t want to harm their mental health and said he’s sure the members of the appeal tribunal agree.

Lawyer Andrew Patterson said the appellants he represents are willing to proceed without a doctor’s opinion because the whole process is stressful and “they just want to get over with it."

The tribunal ruled in favour of Spurr’s motion and set Mar. 16, 19 and 20 to continue.

There was also an indication that a settlement might be possible and no hearing would be necessary.

Good Food Day is back

 

the Good Food Innovation Awards are returning as a national platform celebrating the people shaping Canada’s food future.

 

Founded by the late Anita Stewart, the awards were created to honour innovation, leadership, and the power of food to connect communities from coast to coast to coast. 

Her understanding of Canadian cuisine reached far beyond urban centres. It lived in farmers’ markets, in the wilderness, on docks and fishing boats, in the North, in remote kitchens, and wherever Canadians gathered around the table.

 

She said “Canada is food, and the world is richer for it”.

 

The program paused after her passing during the pandemic. This conscious decision emphasized collaboration over competition and allowed time for Anita’s family, the board, and the wider food community to breathe.

 

Now, the awards return with renewed purpose with Food Day Canada and the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph.

 

The Stewart family hopes the Good Food Innovation Awards will grow to become 

Gene-edited pork labeling questioned

The Canadian Pork Council said it supports gene editing in pig breeding programs, but said its not practical to require labeling as du Breton and others have asked.

“We know domestic and international consumers will want to educate themselves on this technology, but it is important to note there is no mechanism to track or segregate this product through supply chains,” the Canadian Pork Council said.

Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have approved gene-edited pigs developed by Genus PLC and PIC (Pig Improvement Company), ruling them safe for food and feed. The pigs have been gene edited to resist porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS).

Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada also said that environmental and human health risks were no different than with pigs currently available. The CFIA and Health Canada also found no difference in nutritional value, according to a Jan. 23 news release.