Aiding Health Care Is Next Opportunity for Agriculture Sector - A Conference Hears There's A Need to Steamline Regulations if Canada is to Lead the World in the Area

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

BY GLENN POWELL, SPECIAL TO ONTARIO FARMER

Food scientists, medical researchers, government policy makers and farmers from across Canada, the United States, Australia and Europe - more than 400 in total - spent two days here examining the options and discussing the framework for a food system that focuses on nutrition and health.

No one blamed farmers for the poor dietary choices that have resulted in an alarming increase in the percentage of the population that is overweight, especially in the United States and Canada. But time and again at this Agri-Food Innovation Forum it was pointed out that agriculture has a golden opportunity to not only capture the benefits of new production and marketing opportunities but also lead the way in reducing the soaring cost of our health care system.

Ken Knox, president, Innovation Institute of Ontario (and former OMAF deputy minister) described the current outlook for Ontario's traditional farm economy as "dismal with little chance for improvement." However, he said, the rising cost of health care may provide the solution to the crisis in agriculture.

Health care costs, if the current trend continues, will soon be consuming 70 per cent of government funds, Knox stated. "Clearly this situation is not sustainable," he said, adding that governments will be hard-pressed to find funds for other initiatives such as education, housing or agricultural support.

But within the rapidly rising health care budget there are costs very much associated with diet and food choices. Diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers can be directly related to lifestyle and food consumption. With improved food products and improved choices by consumers, millions of dollars could be safely diverted from health care to other needs.

Gaeten Lussier, Chair, Canadian Agricultural Policy Institute, agreed. "Agriculture has an opportunity to be the fundamental pillar of a healthy Canada," he said, adding that health must be an integral part of "a new food policy framework." Disease prevention should be at the forefront of policy development and the food system. New partnerships will be required within the food industry - partnerships that focus on functional foods, nutraceuticals, healthy diets and disease prevention.

Lussier also agreed with Knox's conclusion that the traditional farm production and marketing system in Canada is in for a bumpy ride over the next several years.

There will be "rough turbulence" Lussier predicted as countries such as Brazil, China, Russia and India are all planning to increase their share of the world food market.

There are a tough 10 to 15 years to come, Lussier said, but he predicted that Canada will once again be "a world feeder if we tie our growth to health."

However, both Knox and Lussier - and several other speakers - agreed that major changes must take place in Canada's regulatory system if this country is ever to reach its potential as a world leader in the production of foods and food products that promote health.

Forum speakers regularly referred to the present system of regulatory approvals as "archaic, negative, and stifling."

Ontario Farmer
© Copyright 2005, Sun Media Corporation

The Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada (OACC) wishes to thank Ontario Farmer for permission to reproduce this article on our website.