FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SASKATOON – The coalition behind the National Index on Agri-Food Performance published its first sustainability index for the country’s agriculture and agri-food sector. This announcement is an important milestone in readying Canada’s agri-food supply chains for the global disclosure standards coming in 2024 and ensuring Canada leads and defines the standards of sustainable agriculture and agri-food now and into the future.
“GIFS prides itself on its role as a connector in the agri-food ecosystem and is pleased to be a founding partner of this initiative,” said Dr. Steven Webb, chief executive officer of the Global Institute for Food Security at USask. “Canada is one of the world’s largest and most sustainable producers of food, but we haven’t had all the metrics to prove or improve upon it. This index gives us the data and the transparent process to measure how well we are doing.”
Within the index are 20 indicators detailing over 130 metrics spanning environmental, food integrity, economic and societal well-being. This index positions Canada among the few nations globally to take an approach that includes an entire economic sector. The initiative is ambitious, and it needs to be.
“The National Index on Agri-Food Performance will provide access to clear, actionable information for policymakers, investors, and other important decision-makers while maintaining and reinforcing Canada’s position as a global leader in delivering safe, sustainable and responsible food to a growing world population,” said Webb. “To date, we have not done a good job of recognizing – both in Canada and globally – the important contributions Canadian farmers have made by adopting and deploying new innovations at scale and positioning Canadian food producers as some of the most sustainable in the world. The index will highlight the gains these producers have already made and provide clarity on opportunities to further improve the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the system.”
GIFS thanks all the partners behind this critical initiative, and especially David McInnes for his tireless efforts to organize such a large and diverse group of stakeholders. Learn more about the index and the reports released today by visiting: The National Index May Report