Today, agriculture is a vital industry to Canada’s economy and to the many Canadians it employs in a variety of fields. Unsurprisingly, agriculture also played a key role in our country’s development, especially in Western Canada. Here are some of the highlights from agriculture’s rich history.
Combine to Craft is all about sharing the Alberta story. From the field to the glass, we want to share with craft beverage enthusiasts near and far why they should look for the Alberta Barley logo as a ‘mark of excellence’ on their finely crafted beverages.
When it comes to the Internet, it seems it can never be fast enough. Rural Internet service has improved significantly since the days of dial-up, but it still has a long way to go before it matches the connectivity and speed enjoyed by people in urban centres. A recent decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) declaring broadband Internet a basic service, as well as funding commitments from the federal government, will help farmers and rural communities reliably take part in the digital age.
Prior to Confederation, Canada already had more than 250 years of agricultural history to look back on from European settlers. However, that history was modest and the agriculture skewed toward subsistence, as opposed to the eye-popping crop yields of today. Twenty-five years before Canada officially became a nation, agriculture was being formed as a vital cornerstone of the country’s history and identity in rural Ontario.
Jason “JP” Popesku is a lover of beer, but arguably, he was a lover of science first. After completing his undergraduate degree in biochemistry and biotechnology at the University of Waterloo in 2001, Popesku decided to pursue a master’s degree in microbial biotechnology and fermentation science at the same institution. From there, he went to the University of Ottawa and completed a PhD in molecular neuroendocrinology.
Alberta’s craft distilleries are raising a glass to toast the provincial government’s announcement of a new grant program for small distillers that will particularly benefit new entrants to the business in Alberta.
Baking bread at home can be daunting for those who have never used live cultures before. But despite that—and the complex science of bread baking—the slow-food movement and the quality of bread made at artisan bakeries is inspiring more and more people to give it a try.
Hearing that a college student was growing mushrooms in his dorm room might give you the wrong idea, but Alex Villeneuve is not that kind of student. In fact, Villeneuve saw an opportunity in mushrooms, and has followed through on that idea to create what is poised to be a full-fledged agriculture business.
It may be surprising to some Canadians that real hunger exists right on our doorstep and just down the road. Canadian food banks are being called upon more and more to provide nutritious food for a large number of people in many cities across the country. In fact, use of food banks rose nearly 30 per cent between 2008 and 2016.
As our country celebrates its 150th birthday, there are many people, places and things that make us proud to be Canadian. In December 2016, Abacus Data, an Ottawa-based research group, compiled a list of 78 items that Canadians are proud of. The results included a wide variety of pride-inspiring Canadiana, but one important item on the list was No. 17: Canadian wheat. That’s right—the humble cereal grain that is synonymous with the Prairies scored higher than Queen Elizabeth II, Sidney Crosby, Justin Bieber, Drake, Alberta Beef, Lululemon, the Roots brand and Air Canada. So, how is it that wheat has wiggled its way into our collective hearts? To answer that question, you must go back a quarter-millennium.
