Seasonal farm workers may be far from home, but there are friends who care about their lives and families – their employers are found all across Canada.

For more than 3,100 participants in CanadaGAP, winter is a time to prepare for the busy season ahead. Look to the program’s website for the most frequently asked questions – and answers – about agricultural chemicals, personal hygiene facilities and water for fluming and cleaning.

Consumers are critical of products that generate plastic waste and packaging companies are responding. C-Pack uses ultrasound to weld fruit and vegetable netting. The German company will be exhibiting at this year’s Fruit Logistica in Berlin from February 6-9.

The Agri-food Management Institute (AMI) has launched a new online resource called Farm Productivity to help producers increase efficiencies and reduce waste on their farms.

Maggie Van Camp is the new national agricultural practice development leader for BDO Canada, based in Guelph, Ontario.

Nearly 60 per cent of food produced in Canada is lost and wasted annually. Second Harvest reports on what can be done about the food waste crisis after landmark research conducted by Value Chain Management International. The report was a year in the making with 700 frontline food leaders.

Vineland Research and Innovation Centre researchers hope that federal funding will help them build a network to accelerate development and commercialization of labour-saving agricultural technologies.

Gowan is creating a new business unit to develop bio-solutions, built around EcoFlora Agro SAS.

Food recalls from romaine lettuce to cauliflower have been generating headlines. A new $1-million gift to hire food safety expert Prof. Lawrence Goodridge and to expand other initiatives couldn't have come at a better time. 

Plants and plant-based protein are the favoured food groups in the draft edition of the new Canada Food Guide.