A CBC radio program about the future of food that was recorded at the University of Guelph airs tonight on Ideas. “Confronting the ‘perfect storm’: How to feed the future” is the first of a two-part series, and will be broadcast at 9 p.m.
The program was recorded during panel discussions held on campus Oct. 27 and sponsored by the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph. It was the first session of the Canada 150 Symposium: Reflect and Envision, and was moderated by award-winning CBC Ideas radio host Paul Kennedy.
“Within the area of global food security, there is a huge amount of complexity,” said Prof. Evan Fraser, director of the Arrell Food Institute. “I’m hoping people come away [from this conversation] with a sense of the complexity, but not that it’s so complex that we can’t make progress.”
Fraser, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Global Food Security, led the panel discussions. He researches the social and environmental consequences of food price volatility and ways to reduce waste in global food systems.
“Global challenges don’t get bigger or more exciting than global food security,” Fraser said. “It’s a challenge but also a huge socio-economic opportunity. We have the ability to radically rethink the way we produce, distribute and eat food.”
He added: “Canada has a really exciting opportunity presenting itself. I share the visions articulated by the federal government—that Canada can be the world’s supplier of safe and nutritious food.”