News Archive
AGRICULTURE MINISTERS FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY, GROWTH AND MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR CANADIAN PRODUCERS
TORONTO, Ontario (February 5, 2010)
Federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Agriculture met today on a range of issues critical to the long term success of farmers and the agricultural and agri-food sector across the country.
The meeting, co-chaired by the Honourable Gerry Ritz, federal Minister of Agriculture, and the Honourable Bob Bjornerud, Saskatchewan's Minister of Agriculture, focused on the economic situation, the competitiveness of the sector and ongoing efforts to strengthen Canada's food safety and livestock traceability systems.
"Canadian agricultural products are among the best in the world," said Minister Ritz. "With the Market Access Secretariat now fully up and running, we are working with provinces and territories, and with industry, to identify their market priorities, both domestically and abroad, to ensure we seize every opportunity to sell our products."
Ministers discussed the Business Risk Management (BRM) strategic review, recognizing the need to look to the future. FPT governments will initiate consultations with producers and agricultural groups on the challenges facing the sector, BRM programs and the opportunities that lie ahead. The results of those consultations will be reported back to Ministers at their next meeting.
"Governments have a responsibility to listen to producers," Minister Bjornerud said. "Farmers and ranchers are the first people impacted by the policy and programs we create. We need to engage our producers as we work to improve our Business Risk Management programming."
Governments are also determined to ensure that programs continue to respond to the sectors needs, including the examination of options such as livestock insurance, to help producers secure a stable and prosperous future.
The federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers will hold their annual meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, July 6-8, 2010.
A-HA research scientist featured in Campbell's Healthcare newsletter for research on mealtime for older adults with dementia
Agri-food for Healthy Aging (February 4, 2010)
Agri-food for Healthy Aging (A-HA) research scientist, Dr. Heather Keller, is featured in Campbell's Healthcare MenuSource Winter 2010 newsletter. As the cover story, this article features highlights from the first-ever longitudinal qualitative studies to explore the nature of mealtime for older adults with dementia conducted by Dr. Keller and her research team. The studies' results are highly relevant to long-term care, where tablemates and caregivers assume the role of family members.
MenuSource is delivered to over 7,000 Campbell's customers across Canada, and is distributed seasonally. Visit www.campbellshealthcare.ca to see the current and/or previous issues, learn about products & brands available, and recipes and presentation ideas.
View MenuSource Winter 2010 newsletter...
To learn more about the Eating Together study, visit www.drheatherkeller.com.
For details and copies of the studies, email Dr. Keller at hkeller@uoguelph.ca.
Prof to Be on CBC
University of Guelph FeedBlitz (January 16, 2010)
Prof. Heather Keller will be interviewed on CBC Radio One's The Current Monday discussing seniors and food security.
The family relations and applied nutrition professor will talk about what seniors are facing when it comes to being able to affording food as well as a need for provincial and national policy that will help ensure seniors are getting the proper nutrition.
Keller's research is focused on older adults and understanding their eating behaviour, demonstrating the importance of nutrition to health and quality of life, investigating factors related to poor appetite as well as the role of mealtime for people with dementia and their caregivers.
Hosted by Anna Maria Tremonti, The Current airs across Canada weekdays at 8:30am on channel 89.1 FM.
Addressing Canada's Aging Population
Food In Canada (December 2009)
If you think you don't need to address Canada's aging population, think again. In 2005 in Canada 1.3 people in 10 were over 65 years of age. By 2056, one in three people will be over 65. And according to the Guelph Food Technology Centre's Agri-Food for Healthy Aging Innovation Breakfast held in late October, this large and influential group will change how we deliver healthcare and how we manufacture food.
In order to meet the needs of this group, the speakers at the event called on industry - from health and agricultural scientists, to food scientists, manufacturers and government - to focus on research. This aging population, which will include people with different levels of mobility and need, will have unique demands nutritionally. And studies show that access to the nutrients they need can positively affect their health.
$20 Million Investment for Ontario's Food & Beverage Processing Sector
FedDev Ontario (November 10, 2009)
The federal government has just announced a new $20-million investment for Ontario's food and beverage processing sector under the Southern Ontario Development Program (SODP). The federal funds will support projects submitted by small and medium-sized businesses involved in the manufacturing and processing of food and beverages.
This program will help existing food and beverage businesses with a proven track record that are looking to expand, modernized, innovate, and/ore improve their competitiveness.
Preference and priority will be given to companies with less than 1000 employees with facilities in communities with less than 500,000 population.
Eligible projects will result in increased competitiveness, growth and productivity. They would include those that expand capacity, improve technology or equipment, provide access to new markets, develop new products or services, and/or promote the commercialization of innovations.
Applications for this funding, which is targeted at food and beverage processors, will be accepted starting today. FedDev Ontario will favour projects that can be started quickly and completed by March 31, 2010. Applications will be assessed based on merit and against SODP criteria, adjusted for this specific application window, and will be reviewed as they are received by the Agency.
Healthy aging and the food we eat
The Guelph Mercury (October 29, 2009)
Guelph - An aging population offers both opportunity and responsibility to those in the food industry, including government, researchers, food producers, packagers and farmers.
"The good news is we're living longer," said George Zegarac, deputy minister of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "The bad news is we're living longer. From a health promotion standpoint, we have to get ahead of the curve."
Zegarac was one of several speakers at a conference Wednesday that brought together people in the food industry to look at the dietary needs of the elderly and ways the food industry can adapt to help people live in their own homes while remaining healthy.
The event at the Cutten Club was organized by the Guelph Food Technology Centre, FANbase and Agri-food for Healthy Aging.
Dr. Heather Keller, a research scientist at the University of Guelph, said while there's lots of research about other aspects of aging, and obviously nutrition factors into that, little is known about their existing eating habits.
"There's a lack of information about what's eaten, what's needed, the benefits of food intervention and drug-food interactions," Keller said. "There's also a lack of government policy around food and aging."
Seniors who live independently often have trouble getting to the grocery store, pushing big grocery carts and navigating big grocery stores. Food labels are hard to read with aging eyes and packaging can be difficult to open.
"There's a high need for functional food," she said. "This is the new market."
Countdown on for the Ontario Innovation Summit: The Business of Aging
MaRS Discovery District (October 15, 2009)
From chronic disease to shifting patterns of work, retirement, and social structures, the challenges around the graying global population are immense - but so are the opportunities, through strategic reform and life-enhancing innovation.
The Ontario Innovation Summit: The Business of Aging -- designed and delivered at MaRS on Dec. 1-2, 2009 - will feature some of the world's top experts on the many issues that the aging of the global population poses for communities, governments, academic and health-care institutions, and businesses.
This unique event brings together a world-class audience of industry professionals, who will explore the profound public policy challenges as well as the growing opportunities associated with this demographic phenomenon. The conference will also host special keynote appearances by the Hon. Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, and Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 Astronaut.
100 Mile Harvest
Kitchener/Waterloo, ON - October 2, 2009
Local food is a hot topic these days. Eating more Ontario products is good for everyone in our community - the farmers, food producers, restaurants and consumers.
The Charcoal Group of Restaurants in partnership with the Turkey Farmers of Ontario will be promoting Ontario turkey along with other Ontario sourced foods from local farms within a 100-mile radius of the Waterloo Region. The 100 Mile Harvest menu will be available at all 4 restaurants from October 5 to October 30, 2009.
Heather Nahatchewitz, with TFO's Marketing and Communications says, 'Turkey Farmers of Ontario is excited about the 100 Mile Harvest and we expect it will increase the guest's awareness of how Ontario turkey can be consumed all year round, through experiencing delicious, fresh menu choices such as Roasted Ontario Turkey Spring Rolls.'
Soy Lowers Risk of Heart Disease in Type 2 Diabetics, U of G study finds
(September 30, 2009 - News Release)
A diet that includes soy protein helps lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in adults diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, University of Guelph researchers have found.
In a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, the researchers found that soy protein reduces serum LDL -- so-called "bad" cholesterol -- in adults with Type 2 diabetes who are managing their disease by controlling their diets rather than with medication.
"Everyone who has Type 2 diabetes is at a higher risk for heart disease," said Alison Duncan, a professor in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences. "So it is encouraging to show that it is possible to control one of the major risk factors by using soy as a dietary preventive strategy."
Creating Opportunities for Ontario's Agri-food Sector, with the Aging Population in Mind
The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging's new Agri-food for Healthy Aging program has partnered with the Guelph Food Technology Centre's FANbase™ Ontario to highlight opportunities for Ontario's food innovation sector to respond to the increasing aging population and the nutritional needs of older adults.
Guelph, ON (August 2009) Agri-food for Healthy Aging (A-HA) has joined forces with FANbase™ Ontario (Ontario Functional Food, Agriculture and Natural Health Product Database) to shed some light on nutrition research in older adults, and opportunities the results present for Ontario's Functional Food and Natural Health Product (FFNHP) sector.
Canadians Consume Too Much Salt
(July 15, 2009) In a 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey, researchers found that among people aged 19-70, 85% of men and 60% of women consumed more sodium than was recommended.1 For adults aged 51-70, recommended sodium intake is 1,300 mg, while adults aged 70+ should consume even less (1,200 mg). This survey also indicated that in 2004 Canadian men too in an average of 4,100 mg of sodium daily, while women consumed 2,900 mg. This results in almost one-third more than the recommended limit, when the population is considered as a whole.
High salt intake can cause serious health problems, including hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Even people who are not salt-sensitive in their 20s are more vulnerable these types of health problems as they reach their 40s and 50s. According to Blood Pressure Canada, more than 90% of Canadians who live to be about 80 years old will develop high blood pressure unless they take steps to reduce their sodium intake and increase their level of physical activity.