Dr. Ivan Emke
Former Professor and Researcher, Memorial University Grenfell Campus.

Dr. Mumtaz Cheema
Professor, School of Science and the Environment, Memorial University Grenfell Campus.

Susan Lester
Agriculture Entrepreneur, Lester's Farm Market.

Josh Smee
CEO, Food First NL.

Climate change is already having a significant impact on farming and food supply: While the weather has always impacted agriculture, changes in our climate is shifting farming and food access. Especially in Labrador, climate change is limiting access to traditional foods. On the Island, as well as Labrador, changes to precipitation can have a significant impact on the timing of planting and overall yields. 

Global food systems are at risk and NL is highly dependent on imported food: Newfoundland and Labrador is part of a globalized food system (somewhere between 70-90% of food comes from outside the province); there are now increasing numbers of climate disasters that are hitting parts of that supply chain, so it’s fairly predictable that food prices are going to go up. It’s important to consider how this will affect the people who are already are struggling to access food affordably. And this all looks very different in Northern Labrador where food systems have already been severely disrupted. Additionally, policy decisions at the national level to address climate targets are also impacting transportation and consideration needs to be given to how those policies will affect food prices and access in places like NL that are dependent on imported food. 

Food choices and habits are an important piece of the puzzle: If part of NL’s climate change adaptation plan is to rely less on imported food, then individual food choices and habits need to shift to work with the local supply. To support local farmers, the local economy, and to reduce individual carbon footprint, consumers will need to consider choosing foods that are in-season, as well as freezing or preserving foods for consumption out of season. This is a shift from a modern consumer’s expectation to have fresh produce, for example, year-round. 

Food access and transportation are inextricably linked: Food access and transportation are inextricably linked, even more so in light of climate change: Meeting climate goals is not possible without radical shifts in our transportation systems – in NL our food system is highly dependent on transportation. Part of addressing climate change, and adapting to the impacts it will have on our food system, is through addressing transportation issues in the province (access to public transportation in particular). 

Opportunities for bioeconomy: Opportunities for bioeconomy to address agriculture needs while also addressing climate goals: There is ongoing research regarding the increased use of local organic waste products as soil amendments, rather that shipping in fertilizer from elsewhere. There are projects in place with pulp and paper, the dairy industry, the mining industry, and forestry that can both reduce waste and increase agricultural opportunities. 

Possible opportunities for increased food production: Climate change will give the province a longer growing window which allows for better crops and can improve food security in the province. 

Affordability and access for people with low-incomes must be an additional lens: Almost 1/5 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are food insecure – given current increases to food prices, that number is likely to rise. People living at the bottom of the income scale are already facing the biggest challenges for food access (due to cost of food overall, higher cost of fresh food, in addition to limited access to transportation to access food supply alternatives). Consideration for this needs to be included when examining food policies that adapt to climate change.