Canada’s farms feed millions. Why can’t they feed the world?

Canada is already an agricultural powerhouse, but experts say the country is falling short of its potential to export even more food around the globe. The problem is not a lack of crops. Farmers like Dean Roberts, who grows canola, wheat, barley and lentils on his farm in Coleville, Sask., say Canada is lagging behind competitor nations when it comes to adopting new technology. That technological gap is one of several key barriers. Experts point to red tape, infrastructure bottlenecks and labour shortages as major factors undermining Canada’s ability to scale up its agri-food exports. While Canada struggles with these internal hurdles, other countries are moving faster to expand their own agricultural exports, gaining ground in global markets. The result: a nation with the land and resources to help feed the world is being held back by problems that are largely fixable—if the right steps are taken.