The Food Policy for Canada

A vision for the future of food

The Food Policy for Canada was launched in 2019 as a framework to align and coordinate federal food-related initiatives and address critical challenges facing Canada's food systems to improve social, health, environmental and economic outcomes. The Food Policy for Canada also sets a vision for the future of food in Canada:

All people in Canada are able to access a sufficient amount of safe, nutritious, and culturally diverse food. Canada's food system is resilient and innovative, sustains our environment and supports our economy.

Also, the Food Policy for Canada set a foundation for better integration and coordination to support the development of food-related policies and programs that continue to support healthier and more sustainable food systems. While promoting growth for farmers, producers, and food businesses in Canada, the benefits of sound food policies are far-reaching and help to support the following key priorities:

Vibrant communities

Improve community capacity and resilience to food-related challenges.

Increased connections within food systems

Collaborate on food-related issues across sectors of government, society, fields of work, and academic disciplines to strengthen our ability to make progress together on food-related issues and adapt to emerging needs.

Improved food-related health outcomes

Work together to make it easier for people living in Canada to have sufficient access to safe, nutritious food, and culturally diverse foods, and reduce the burden of diet-related disease.

Sustainable food practices

Maintain the health of our natural resources so that we can continue to provide food for future generations. Greater efforts to develop and maintain sustainable food practices help make better use of natural resources, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and create efficiencies and financial savings across Canada's food systems.

Inclusive economic growth

There is tremendous potential for economic growth within Canada's food systems, given the growing global demand for high-quality food that is nutritious and sustainably produced. Canada is well-positioned to meet this demand.

Strong Indigenous food systems

Advance our commitment to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, build new relationships based on respect and partnership, and support strong and prosperous First Nations, Inuit and Métis food systems – as defined by communities themselves.

Defining food policy

Food policy guides food-related decisions and actions. It is a way to understand and address the linkages within food systems and provides a framework to support the decision-making process for public, private and non-profit sectors. It can also help individuals understand the impacts and opportunities for change within Canada's food systems.

Food systems, including the way food is produced, processed, distributed, consumed, and disposed of, have direct impacts on the lives of people in Canada. Food systems are interconnected and integral to the wellbeing of communities, including northern and Indigenous communities, public health, environmental sustainability, and the strength of the economy.

Federal, provincial, and territorial governments across Canada have taken action to address various issues impacting food systems, including through:

  • income support programs that reduce poverty and can also help reduce food insecurity
  • policies to improve food environments and support healthier food choices
  • initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including in the agriculture and food sector
  • investments in innovation to increase the agriculture and food sector's capacity to produce high-quality food

Through a wide range of actions undertaken, considerable progress has been made within Canada's food systems. The Food Policy for Canada continues to look for multi-faceted and collaborative solutions to address these important societal issues.

Federal food policy initiatives

Aligning health, social, environmental, and economic federal initiatives is important to supporting the Food Policy for Canada framework. Recent investments show how departments and agencies have worked together to achieve this.

Aligning approaches to build strong food systems

Food systems in Canada are interconnected, impacting social, health, environmental, and economic outcomes. Addressing complex food issues requires a coordinated and clear approach. By working together, individuals, organizations, and governments can actively strengthen food systems through the following methods:

  • Collaboration among governments, organizations and stakeholders, Indigenous communities, and people living in Canada is vital to building healthier, diverse and more sustainable food systems that supports communities and the economy
  • Innovation in policies, programs and regulatory designs that use people-driven food systems, encourage a broad approach to innovation that is adaptable as priorities shift
  • Sustainability is a priority in food systems that supports taking a broad perspective that incorporates social, cultural, environmental, and economic progress in decision making
  • Evidence and accountability mean that the development of food-related policies and programs use an evidence-based approach that is transparent, accountable, and results oriented

The importance of consultation

Collaborative discussions bring together different experiences and viewpoints, providing important insights for the development of food policy in Canada.

AAFC proactively collaborates with stakeholders and partners representing:

  • agriculture, fishery and food industries
  • civil society groups with interests in food security, health, and the environment
  • academics and other experts
  • officials with provincial, territorial, and local governments
  • Indigenous Peoples and organizations

AAFC continues to engage with diverse stakeholders and partners on key challenges facing Canada’s food systems and the resulting economic, social, health, and environmental outcomes for communities across Canada.

AAFC also conducts research to help increase the understanding of consumer perceptions, preferences, expectations and behaviours towards Canadian agriculture and agri-food. This research positions the Government and the sector to better adapt approaches to policy making and program development that support collaboration across federal departments in how best to address emerging issues and priority gaps in our food systems. AAFC also applies the Gender-based Analysis Plus framework to support public policies that are developed and informed through an intersectional lens.

Reconciliation

First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities in Canada have distinct food systems that have been nurtured and developed over many generations. Reconciliation begins by acknowledging how historic government policies have disrupted these food systems, and ensuring that decision-making going forward:

  • Adopts a distinctions-based approach to ensure that the unique rights, interests and circumstances of the First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation are acknowledged, affirmed, and implemented
  • Supports Indigenous food self-determination, meaning the ability of Indigenous peoples to define their own food systems
  • Takes a holistic approach that acknowledges that food is more than a product. For Indigenous peoples, it is the medicine that ensures their wellbeing; it is a way of sustaining culture and community; and, it is a way of reconnecting to the land
  • Looks (seven) generations ahead to assess the impact of current actions on future generations, and support intergenerational knowledge transfer
  • Promotes two-eyed seeing to ensure that Indigenous knowledge and practices are considered alongside other forms of knowledge and evidence

Inclusion, diversity and community

We are committed to addressing the profound systemic inequities and disparities that are present in the core fabric of Canadian society and institutions. It is essential that people in Canada see themselves reflected in our priorities and our work, including through food policy.

This work includes actively seeking out views from various communities across Canada, incorporating community and culturally diverse approaches to food and nutrition. Also, given the diversity of people living in Canada, decision-makers recognize the importance of support for community-based and community-led initiatives, local capacity building, and measuring progress on gender equality.

Supporting stronger, more resilient food systems: Canada's National Pathways

The United Nations (UN) Food Systems Summit was held during the UN General Assembly in September 2021. Various stakeholders led on food systems initiatives, including farmers, women, youth and Indigenous groups. Member states recognized the importance of food systems and committed to accelerate action on important priorities identified in national pathways as a part of the Decade of Action on achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

In response to the global call for the positive transformation of food systems, Canada's National Pathways was developed to build on initiatives already underway to promote positive change in Canada's food systems.

The Food Policy for Canada supports Canada in meeting commitments under the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, including to end hunger, promote good health, cut food waste and encourage sustainable food systems.

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