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There comes an increase in
high temperature events
and risk of wildfires.
Precipitation patterns
will change — which
can lead to both floods
AND droughts.
Future Risks
Local Pathways
Climate Change and Agriculture
Agriculture is highly dependent on the weather. Climate affects
everything – from the planting, maturing and harvesting of crops, to
the spread of disease and pests, to storage and transportation.
Climate models are showing that Canada will have longer growing
seasons as the temperature increases, but at the same time…
The agricultural sector has begun to look at inventive ways to reduce
emissions and pursue land-use practices that can help mitigate climate
change. These strategies boost resilience of farms and have better
environmental outcomes.
Examples include:
• Different crop cultivation, rotation strategies and seeding dates
• Using strategies that till the soil less
• Transitioning to lower-carbon fuel sources
• Improving fertilizers and fertilizer application approaches
• Using gas-capture systems for livestock and manure
• Using drought and heat tolerant varieties of crops.
Laforge, J., Corkal, V., & Cosby, A. (2021). Farming the Future: Agriculture and climate change
on the Canadian Prairies. International Institute for Sustainable Development. Climate Atlas of
Canada (n.d.). Agriculture and Climate Change.
Inflation is Unpredictable
After disruptions caused by the pandemic, extreme
weather events and the war in Ukraine, supply
chains are going back to “normal” which should “put
the breaks” on rising food costs.
But, economic experts predict global food
prices will remain 25% higher than they
were during the pre-pandemic decade.
Heaven, P. (2023). Posthaste: Why high food prices could be here to
stay for Canadians. Financial Post.
Strengthening Local Pathways
Agenda 2030: Edmonton Food Security Report found that community
organizations can’t tackle food issues on their own; we need a
commitment to the right of food from all levels of government.
Governments should use these types of budget guidelines to ensure
more equitable distribution of resources.
• A need for strengthened collaboration and connection among
agencies is necessary to strengthen capacity to leverage each other’s
unique skills, talents and community connections.
• The City of Edmonton needs to support grassroots agencies and
organizations. Grassroots agencies need to be given more value for
their voices as they are on the front line and have the most insight and
thus able to suggest and implement the most relevant solutions.
• Efforts to decolonize major agencies and approaches are also
necessary. There needs to be commitment made by stakeholders to
ensure voices are heard in decision-making processes and informed
policy change.
We will likely see drier summers,
but increased winter and spring
precipitation. This may mean
too much water during seeding and
not enough in the growing season.
• Strengthen growing, processing, and storing of
food through collectives and at the individual level.
Focusing on locally produced and grown food
leads to less waste and less environmental impact.
On the individual level, we are creating autonomy and
education for people to grow their own food. Vaugeois,
R. and J. Kinsella [2022]. Agenda 2030: Edmonton Food Security Report.
READ MORE: 2023 Vital
Signs report is out now.
Discover more about local food
insecurity with Vital Signs and how
YOU can help be part of the solution
for food insecurity, including
eliminating food waste.
Many agencies
are starting to
allocate 30% of
their budgets to
specifically focus
on ethnocultural communities and
vulnerable groups
Sources for these statistics are available at ecfoundation.org
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