Food Production in Canada

An overwiew

Valdo Berbert Camilo, A.Ag.

Source: Overview of the Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food System 2008 – www.agr.gc.ca

What you know about food production in Canada?

Which products are produced here?What is the position of Canada in the world food

producer rank?How many hectares of arable land are available in

this country?What percentage of renewable water is used in

agriculture and livestock production?The agrifood system is important for Canadian

economy?Are Canadian farms self-sustainable?What percentage of their budget canadians

costumers spent on food?

TopicsFood Production – products, production and

use of natural resourcesEconomic aspectsFarms sustainabilityFood consumer´s budget

Top Production

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations – FAO - 2007

Top ProductionRank Commodity Production (Int $1000) Production (MT)

1 Rapeseed 2545259 9601100

2 Wheat 2275904 20054000

3 Cow milk, whole, fresh 2166081 8145000

4 Potatoes 677519 4999424

5 Soybeans 494571 2695700

6 Peas, dry 487658 2934800

7 Hen eggs, in shell 310293 398436

8 Barley 256967 10983900

9 Tomatoes 194720 821850

10 Oats 185040 4696300

11 Lentils 159207 733900

12 Linseed 143094 633500

13 Blueberries 122177 77400

14 Mushrooms and truffles 121421 81610

15 Maize 117679 11648700

16 Beans, dry 116625 276700

17 Apples 116349 405089

18Tobacco, unmanufactured

80221 44000

19 Carrots and turnips 58537 306769

20 Maize, green 58298 296245

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations – FAO - 2007

Canada rank in the world, by commodity

Rank Commodity Rank Commodity

1 Canary seed, Dry Peas and Linseed 17 Green Beans

2Cranberries, Blueberries, Rapeseed, Mustard seed, Lentils, Mixed grain and Oats

19Carrots, Turnips, Kiwi fruit and Whole, fresh Cow Milk

3 Barley and Fibre Crops 20 Triticale, Lettuce, Chicory and Asparagus

7 Soybeans 21 Tomatoes

8 Raspberries, Mushrooms and Truffles, Chick Peas and Wheat

22 Cucumbers, gherkins and Sour cherries

9 Maize 24 Strawberries and Sunflower seed

10Green Maize, Anise, Badian, Fennel and Corian

25 Leeks and other alliaceous veg

12 Natural Honey 27 Cherries

13 Potatoes, Berries and Safflower Seed 28Apples, Dry Broad Beans, Horse Beans and Hen Eggs

14 Green Peas and Dry Beans 29 Hop and Meat

15 Buckwheat 30 Spinach

16 Tobacco unmanufactured 31 Cabbages and other Brassicas

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations – FAO - 2007

Canada is endowed with a relative abundance of arable land and water

Renewable water resources

In Canada, agriculture uses a

relatively small share of its abundant renewable water

resources for irrigation and

livestock

The agriculture and agri-food system contribute significantly to the Canadian economy.

Canada's agricultural producers are much more export oriented than those in the U.S and the EU

Top exports

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations – FAO - 2007

Top exports

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations – FAO - 2007

Rank Commodity Quantity (tonnes) Value (1000 $) Unit value ($/tonne)

1 Wheat 17551674 4359492 248

2 Pigs 10031949 677715 68

3 Rapeseed 5363650 2117432 395

4 Peas, dry 2188418 555689 254

5 Oats 2027554 401335 198

6 Barley 1949933 452437 232

7 Soybeans 1868332 633907 339

8 Cake of Rapeseed 1589243 221901 140

9 Cattle 1432703 1444886 1009

10 Rapeseed oil 1273809 1068654 839

11 Frozen Potatoes 1009077 812073 805

12 Lentils 921394 443013 481

13 Linseed 758444 276347 364

14 Malt 717243 262771 366

15 Potatoes 610142 169349 278

16 Pork 586874 1539006 2622

17 Hay Non Legum 567135 147459 260

18 Food Prep Nes 492609 1186294 2408

19 Maize 485786 130182 268

20 Beer of Barley 403283 294721 731

The Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector depends on trade

Global commodity prices

A rise in global commodity

prices in 2007 and early 2008

has had an impact on the

performance of the agriculture and agri-food

system

Crude Oil Price

At the same time, rising energy

consumption has contributed to higher crude oil prices which have raised input costs

The primary agriculture sector continues to adjust to international market forces

Families on smaller farms are more dependent on non-farm income

Government support

Government expenditures in support of the

agriculture and agri-food sector have grown over

time, but declined as a share of GDP

Canadian consumers continued to spend a smaller share of their budgets on food in 2007

Spending on food

While Canadian food prices

increased only moderately in the wake of

global commodity price

inflation, low income

Canadians are affected since

they spend more on food

Conclusion

“Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink

that they may live.”Socrates (469 BC - 399 BC)