A recent survey conducted by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, in partnership with Caddle, has found that more than half of Canadians are significantly concerned about the potential impact of climate change on food security. The survey, which took place in late July and gathered responses from 5,450 Canadians, focused on their eating habits during the summer and hot weather, as well as their perceptions of food security in relation to climate change.
According to the survey report released on Tuesday, 52.3% of Canadians are either very or extremely concerned about climate change in general, while only 21.3% have slight concerns or are not concerned at all. Furthermore, a significant majority of 73% believe that climate change is already affecting weather patterns in Canada, resulting in unpredictable conditions.
When it comes to Canada’s ability to produce food, 61% of respondents stated that they believe climate change has a negative impact. Meanwhile, 14.9% held the opposite view, and 25.1% expressed some level of belief that climate change affects food production.
In terms of food availability, 47.1% of respondents expressed worry about its potential disruption due to climate change, while 22.2% stated they were unconcerned. The survey also revealed that 37.6% of Canadians often or always consider the environmental impact of their food choices, while 29.4% rarely or never do so.
The survey highlighted regional disparities in environmental consciousness. Quebec had the highest percentage, at 48.1%, of people who consider the environmental impact of their food choices, while Saskatchewan had the lowest, at 26.4%.
Some Canadians reported firsthand observations of climate change’s impact on food availability. Specifically, 40.1% stated that they had noticed changes in the availability or variety of certain foods during the summer in recent years. However, 32.9% answered negatively, and 27% were unsure.
Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, the lab director at the Agri-Food Analytics Lab, noted their surprise at the discrepancy between Quebec and Saskatchewan in terms of considering the environmental impact of food choices during hot weather.
While the survey results emphasize the need for climate-conscious eating habits and sustainable practices in the agri-food sector, they also reveal that, despite witnessing climate change’s effects on food availability, most Canadians remain confident about the future.
It is worth noting that a significant portion of the world’s calories comes from staple foods such as wheat, rice, maize, and soybeans. The majority of these crops are grown in five countries: China, the United States, India, Brazil, and Argentina. As outlined in a 2022 report, a climate catastrophe in any of these countries could potentially trigger a global food crisis, especially considering that wheat, in particular, is highly vulnerable.
Canada has already experienced the impact of climate change on its food supplies, particularly in Western Canada. Extreme heat, drought, forest fires, heavy rainfall, landslides, and flooding have wreaked havoc on food production in the region. Wheat production saw a significant decline of 35%, canola dropped by 14%, and a massive die-off led to an 80% loss of commercial shellfish stocks. These events highlight the urgent need for the Canadian government to focus on adapting crops and plants to withstand extreme weather conditions and to address food security concerns in Indigenous and remote communities.
In conclusion, the survey results demonstrate the significant concern among Canadians regarding climate change’s potential impact on food security. They underline the importance of climate-conscious eating habits and sustainable practices in the agri-food sector. Furthermore, the findings emphasize the need for proactive measures and collaborations with Indigenous and remote communities to address food security challenges in the face of climate change.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
