Agriculture and Food Systems: Threatened by Climate Change

This article was written by one of our dedicated volunteers, Iris.

Food systems are defined as the way food is produced, processed, distributed, and consumed¹, and they are essential to our daily lives. The complex logistics of these food systems allow us to put food on the table. Every piece of food you eat is grown, harvested, processed, shipped, sold, and purchased with each step executed by multiple hands.

Farming is Our Foundation

In Canada, the agricultural sector is the foundation of our food system. Farms, nurseries, and greenhouses work hard to produce food for Canadians, generating over $31.7 billion in Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP)². This sector, known as primary agriculture, employs 247,200 people² and grows millions of metric tons of produce³.

The food grown by these primary producers then sustains the rest of the system, such as processors, retailers, and foodservice providers³; in 2023, the whole agriculture and agri-food system employed 2.3 million people, provided 1 in 9 jobs in Canada, and generated $150.0 billion of Canada’s GDP³. Clearly, farming food matters!

How Climate Change Threatens Farming

However, our food systems are increasingly threatened by climate change. Hotter temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme events are all direct effects of climate change⁴. These changing weather patterns will continue to challenge Canada’s agricultural sector as global temperatures continue to rise. For instance:

The increasing number of extreme heat days (over 30 degrees Celsius) will threaten crop and livestock producers; crops may fail due to heat stress, and livestock may fail to grow, reproduce, or even survive in such sweltering temperatures⁴. These impacts have major implications for the production of poultry, red meat, eggs, and dairy products.
Changing seasons, such as warmer summers and milder winters, will allow new pests and diseases to spread to Canadian farms⁴. These pests may damage crops and harm livestock, which have never had to deal with such problems, and therefore lack adaptive responses.
Variability in spring and fall temperatures can stress fruit trees, leading to blossom loss and a fall in fruit production⁴.

These frightening facts are just a few examples of what can happen to Canadian agriculture as climate change progresses. These unprecedented issues threaten the very foundation of our food systems.

What Are The Broader Implications?

When our agricultural and farming sector is threatened, all Canadians are threatened, after all, everyone needs to eat. We depend on a healthy, dependable supply of food to grow and thrive. As climate change wreaks havoc on our food systems, supply chains, and economies, food prices go up. As a result, issues like food insecurity become increasingly apparent. Rising food prices and economic instability mean that many Canadian households are unable to afford food [5]. They may worry about a limited selection of food, missing meals, or even going days without eating⁵.

What Can We Do?

It’s imperative that all levels of government unite to combat the impacts of climate change. In 2019, the Government of Canada launched the Food Policy for Canada (Food Policy), a nationwide policy to advance a healthier, more sustainable, and robust food system that partners with diverse stakeholders¹.

In Ontario, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture [1] (OFA) recognizes the critical challenges posed by climate change. OFA is working with the provincial government to help farmers adapt to climate change through research and investment, sustainably reduce agricultural emissions, and pursue beneficial management practices that reduce environmental risk⁶. In this way, we can promote the agricultural sector that feeds us, while also mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Here at the Ontario Farmland Trust, we work to preserve farmland for future generations. By protecting farmland, we protect the primary means of food production. Through farmland easement agreements [2] or donations of farmland, we can protect the foundation of our food systems and well-being. If farmland and food are important to you, we encourage you to join our cause.