Dr. Sara Edge has a simple way to explain why some experts think Canada needs to take a harder look at its food supply. "If any of that gets interrupted, we would run out of food quite quickly," said Edge, who holds the Arrell chair in food, policy and society at the University of Guelph. She was referring to Canada's heavy dependence on imported fresh fruits, vegetables, and value-added food products — a vulnerability that a group of Canadian leaders wants the country to take seriously.
On May 12–13, 2026, more than two dozen organizations gathered in Calgary for a two-day workshop to discuss whether food security should become a national security priority. The event was hosted by the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Simpson Center for Food and Agricultural Policy, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, and the Canadian Pork Council. Representatives came from groups including the Canadian Cattle Association, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Farm Credit Canada, TELUS Agriculture, the Royal Military College of Canada, and the University of Guelph. Together, they examined how trade disruptions, supply chain problems, and biological threats are changing the way Canada thinks about feeding its people.
The result is a new report called "Securing Canada's Food System: A Resilient Food System for an Age of Geopolitical Uncertainty." It offers seven recommendations, including formally recognizing food security within Canada's National Security Framework, creating a national plan for protecting farms and food infrastructure, investing in Canadian processing and storage capacity, and strengthening defenses against biological and cybersecurity threats.
"Canada has an opportunity to strengthen its food system before the next major disruption occurs," said Dr. Guillaume Lhermie, a professor of animal health economics at the University of Calgary who led the study. "Our recommendations focus on protecting critical infrastructure, improving preparedness and building resilience across the entire agri-food sector."
The irony is not lost on experts: Canada is one of the world's largest agricultural exporters, selling wheat, beef, pork, and other products worldwide. Yet at the same time, grocery stores rely heavily on produce from other countries, especially during winter months.
Dr. Adam Chapnick, a professor of defense studies at the Royal Military College of Canada, said food security clearly belongs in the national security conversation. "National security is as much about resilience as it is about anything else," he said.
The group is now calling on government leaders to coordinate food resilience efforts across departments and to move quickly on innovation in Canadian agriculture — before a crisis forces action instead of allowing careful planning.