A new growing season is underway, and while that’s normally a cause for optimism, there isn’t as much brightness on the horizon this year.
As an entire industry, agriculture is facing increasing barriers and hurdles that are hindering and in some cases stifling growth. This includes ongoing rising costs; high interest rates; increasing financial burdens from things such as the carbon tax and development charges; regulatory challenges at all levels of government related to fertilizer, plastics, stormwater management, labour and more; and ever-increasing pressure from the marketplace, activists and society in general.
Horticulture is even more heavily impacted by these challenges than other sectors of the agriculture industry because growers must deal with a wide range of provincial ministries, federal departments and municipal organizations that all touch on food in some way.
Provincially, this includes Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Transportation, and Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. Federally, it’s Environment and Climate Change Canada; Environment and Social Development Canada; Health Canada; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
In addition, there are fire marshals, health units, building departments, CanadaGAP and retail auditors, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, international liaison officers, source country partners and more – and there is little to no coordination between these groups.
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