Beyond Meat signage featured on a screen during the company's IPO at the Nasdaq Market site in New York, May 2, 2019.

Comment: Beyond Meat and the plant-based invasion

The Yankees are coming! Or at least their veggie burgers are

It was just a matter of time before we saw Beyond Meat, the California-based company partially owned by Bill Gates and meat-giant Tyson Foods, make a jump from drive-thrus to grocery store shelves. Beyond Meat recently announced that its vegan burger will be available at several large Canadian grocers beginning in May, just in time

Some feel that the consumer trust built on USDA meat inspections may be in jeopardy if the responsibility is turned over to industry.

Comment: ‘No problem, I’ll just stop eating pork’

Actions that will erode confidence in food safety could prove costly

One tried-and-true tool politicians use to deflect public criticism directed at them is as old as politics itself: beat up the press. Someone in Secretary Sonny Perdue’s U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) thought it was time to do just that April 8 as the “FSIS Office of Congressional and Public Affairs” — USDA’s Food Safety


male farmer standing proud and satisfied

Comment: Is food dividing Canada?

Social media and other communications seem to be driving the wedge deeper, not healing the rift

For many years, farmers have tried to convey their message, their lifestyles really, to an undereducated populace when it comes to agriculture and rural Canada. They have taken to social media with touching stories and countless messages, telling Canadians what things are like out on the farm. Some called it “agvocacy.” But Canada’s new food

Farmer in ripe wheat field

What does the updated Canada’s Food Guide mean for farmers?

Animal foods now housed in a protein category shared 
with milk, pulses, tofu and nuts

The new Canada’s Food Guide and its new emphasis on plant proteins drew swift but measured response from agricultural groups and organizations across the country last week. In a news release after the guide’s rollout January 22, Ron Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) said it was “unfortunate that the revised food



Richardson’s International’s purchase of major U.S. vegetable oil brand Wesson is an important deal for Canada’s largest grain company, says its senior vice-president corporate affairs and general counsel Jean-Marc Ruest.

Richardson International buying Wesson veg oil brand

The deal expands Richardson’s canola oil presence in the U.S.

Richardson International, Canada’s largest grain company and major canola crusher, is purchasing Wesson, the United States’ largest vegetable oil brand, from Conagra. It’s a big deal for Richardson and Canadian canola growers, Jean-Marc Ruest, Richardson International’s senior vice-president corporate affairs and general counsel, wrote in an email Dec. 19. “Very beneficial, in our opinion, to


Beef demand per capita is slowing.

2019 Canada Food Price Report: Meat prices to decline

This is the first time since its inception that the report is forecasting lower prices for meat tied to rising consumer interest in switching over to more plant-based protein in their diets

Canadian households are going to pay more for food next year, but for the agriculture industry the telling point is what they’ll be spending their money on. Canadian households can expect to see a 3.5 per cent increase to their overall food bill next year — spending about $411 more — according to Canada’s Food

Murad Al-Katib, of AGT Food and Ingredients, told the Grain World conference Canada will be a world leader in plant-based protein.

Canada will lead world in plant protein

Pulse executive Murad Al-Katib is predicting great things for western Canadian agriculture in the coming years

Murad Al-Katib believes there are tremendous opportunities for Canadian agriculture on the world stage. The president and CEO of Regina-based AGT Food and Ingredients delivered this message Nov. 14 as the keynote speaker at the 2018 edition of the Grain World conference in Winnipeg. “When I was a kid I used to say we are


There are many causes of — and solutions to — food waste.

Consumers acknowledge they are the biggest food wasters

More information and education are needed to fix the problem, say waste reduction advocates

While grocery stores are the usual target for campaigns against food waste, the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI) says consumers primarily point the finger of blame at themselves. A survey conducted for the centre found 69 per cent of consumers consider themselves most responsible for reducing food loss and waste, followed by restaurants at

It remains unclear if consumers will pay more for food authenticity.

Comment: The blockchain party

Grocers are finally climbing aboard the blockchain initiative and consumers should rejoice

Walmart, the largest retailer in the world, recently notified its leafy green suppliers that they will need to use blockchain by the end of next year. Walmart is banking on its relationship with IBM to put pressure on the entire sector to comply with what consumers want from the food industry: more transparency. But others