Commentary
Family farms have long formed part of the backbone of Canada’s economic and cultural life. They helped build communities, sustain local economies, and preserve the practical knowledge required to feed a nation.
Statistics Canada reports that Canada’s farm population has declined by more than 60 percent between 1971 and 2021. This points to a significant shift in just a few decades, affecting not only the number of farms, but the families and communities connected to them. At the same time, food affordability has become an increasing concern, with grocery prices rising sharply in recent years and projections indicating continued increases in the cost of feeding a family….