Newsletter
IICA Delegation in Canada April - June 2018
Issue 2018-02
Representative’s Corner Warm temperatures, colourful tulips, music and food festivals are only some of the reasons why Canadians eagerly embrace this time of the year. For the Delegation in Canada –we had that and more. Even though the second quarter meant we were in full implementation mode with our administrative and technical agenda, a Coffee & Art event allowed for some networking time with our team members and stakeholders. Being mindful of the impending close of the current Medium Term Plan (2014 – 2018), the team ensured that the Delegation’s commitments were addressed even while preparing for the new one. Project activities were concluded with the production of information products on the recently closed FonTC project and the development of a Group Concept Map (GCM) for assisting food safety information management in the Caribbean. Great progress was also made on 3 project ideas which have been incubating for a while. In this regard, partnership engagement was strong, particularly for the preparation of concept notes and in undertaking targeted project activities such as the Food Loss and Waste study. Collaborators ranged from industry (private sector), academia and Government to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), highlighting the continued relevance of our work to a diverse group.
In this issue IICA Canada Joins the Canadian Food Security Policy Group
2
Managing Risk in Haitian Agriculture
3
Applying Group Concept Mapping in Food Safety Information Management
4
A Response to the Canadian Agricultural Worker Shortage
5
Welcoming Summer Research Intern, Camille Levesque, to IICA Canada
6
Coffee & Art Event
7
On the administrative front, programmed meetings were held to keep our main Government stakeholders attuned to current developments and activities of the Delegation and the Institute. Additionally, the opportunity to contribute to the implementation strategy of Canada’s new Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) was optimized and several recommendations underscoring the role of agriculture and food & nutrition security in the development agenda, were submitted. As the IICA “brand” becomes more widely known, new prospects are emerging for establishing consortia and partnerships. The Delegation was therefore pleased to be approved as an Associate Member of the Food Security Policy Group of Canada, which is comprised of NGOs all committed to advancing food security in developing countries. With shared interests, the likelihood for project collaborations of various types is high. The “Fantastic Four” team in the office remains committed and productive and joined for the Summer by a bright young graduate, Camille, plans to deliver results beyond expectations! Happy Summer!
Visit us
For more information: Audia Barnett audia.barnett@iica.int
www.iica.int/canada 1
Newsletter
IICA Delegation in Canada Issue 2018-02
April - June 2018
IICA Canada Joins the Canadian Food Security Policy Group In April 2018, the IICA Delegation in Canada officially became an Associate Member of the Canadian Food Security Policy Group (FSPG). The Canadian Food Security Policy Group is a network of Canadian development organizations and charities with expertise in food security and food systems, particularly in a development context. The group conducts shared research, advocacy, and policy dialogue on issues around food security and Canada’s international and agricultural development policies. The FSPG emphasizes the importance of promoting principles of inclusivity and environmental sustainability in Canada`s international development work, through the production of policy briefs, shared projects, and interaction with government officials. The IICA Delegation in Canada has been attending FSPG meetings as a guest since November 2017, and is very pleased to officially become a member of the group. We look forward to working with the FSPG to promote just, sustainable, and productive agricultural systems in the Americas and around the world.
For more information: Audia Barnett audia.barnett@iica.int
2
Newsletter
IICA Delegation in Canada April - June 2018
Issue 2018-02
Managing Risk in Haitian Agriculture Over the years, Haiti has been affected by extreme environmental events and natural disasters which continue to threaten its food security as well as physical and social infrastructure. In 2011, the Canadian Government responded favourably to a project proposal advanced by IICA to address identified weaknesses in the agricultural sector and to stimulate opportunities for increased resilience in a comprehensive, holistic manner. A consortium comprising Desjardins Developpement International (DID), La Financiere Agricole du Quebec Developpement International (FADQDI) and IICA implemented the project which provided financial, risk management and technical interventions respectively. Since its inception, the project also attracted funds from the Swiss Confederation and Agence francaise de developpement (AFD). Scheduled to run for 7 years, the main components of the project involve the establishment of a revolving loan system, making agricultural finances accessible to small farmers and an insurance system tailored specifically for the agricultural sector. Technical training in the production of various crops e.g. - banana, rice, vegetables, mango, corn, cocoa, coffee and yam, poultry farming was provided by IICA. As the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Haiti is a critical participant in the project, IICA has also been coordinating efforts with each appointed Minister over the years. Overall, the goal is to have a more efficient system with more effective management of the two national guarantee and insurance funds. The Delegation of IICA in Haiti has been instrumental in the following areas: 1. Technical support to Agroentrepreneurs who receive personalized assistance from the trained professionals, Conseillers en Techniques de Gestion (CTG)(Management Techniques Advisors). This is designed to stimulate behavioral changes and the adoption of suitable technological packages for the country. 2. Institutionalization of technical support. Supporting the Ministry of Agriculture to integrate the CTG in the Ministry’s portfolio. 3. Support to the Ministry of Agriculture in implementing a new legal framework and a national policy on agricultural finance and insurance in Haiti. Recent (unrelated) announcements indicate that Société de coopération pour le développement international (SOCODEVI) has assumed the role of FADQDI in the project and the project timeline will be extended for another year. IICA Delegation in Canada looks forward to long-lasting impacts from this innovative partnership.
For more information: Audia Barnett audia.barnett@iica.int
3
Newsletter
IICA Delegation in Canada April - June 2018
Issue 2018-02
Applying Group Concept Mapping in Food Safety Information Management Caribbean Focal Points of the Food Safety network INFOSAN were active participants in a recent study undertaken by the IICA Delegation in Canada with the technical support of Dr. Martin Cloutier of the University of Quebec at Montreal as well as the Agricultural Health and Food Safety Department of the Institute. The innovative methodology involved Group Concept Mapping (GCM) and was employed to determine requirements and priorities of the main stakeholders in the monitoring and knowledge management of food safety information in the Caribbean. Group Concept Mapping is a proprietary tool which can be used in conducting needs assessment and strategic planning exercises. Utilizing a “bottom-up” participatory approach, GCM is able to produce a visual representation of information and data indicative of participants’ views and priorities. Information garnered and analyzed will be useful for organizations such as the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), The Caribbean Agricultural Health & Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA), and the Caribbean nodes of The International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) in planning for enhanced effectiveness and sustainability. Administered by Dr. Cloutier, the GCM required dedicated time and effort on the part of members of the Caribbean food safety network for focussing on, and independently recording areas deemed important for delivering on expectations. Results obtained were both revealing and instructive. The GCM Map created has internal reliability checks with an acceptable margin of error. It can therefore serve as an objective basis for developing a road map for high performance of the network. Due to the fact that INFOSAN focal points actively contributed to the map, there is overall buy-in and commitment, which should translate into sustained follow-up. This is particularly encouraging since the GCM indicates a central role for network coordination (See Group Concept Map). The mapping exercise was conducted as a part of the project: Strengthening National Food Safety Regulatory Capacity in CARICOM Countries, supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
For more information: iica.ca@iica.int 4
Newsletter
IICA Delegation in Canada April - June 2018
Issue 2018-02
A Response to the Canadian Agricultural Worker Shortage The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) in May hosted a Roundtable entitled: Fostering Trust & Compliance in International Farm Worker Programs to address administrative and service delivery issues that continue to confront farm employers in trying to access the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Canada. Attracting a diverse group of interests from across Canada, the Roundtable had inter alia industry leaders, sector councils, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Ministry of Employment and Skills Development, Ministry Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of as well as Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council. This set the stage for meaningful discourse and for more informed data justifying the concerns and potential solutions. According to CFA President, Ron Bonnet, some 60,000 vacancies currently exist in the Agri-Food industry, a situation which is of concern if the sector is to reach its proposed goal of $75 billion in agri-food exports by 2025. It was acknowledged that Canadian workers were the first to be targeted for hiring, however due to the nature and location of agricultural jobs, it was usually quite difficult to find interested Canadians. The bottom line which was reiterated by several participants was that Canadian producers needed to access the requisite workforce if it was to compete in the global economy. This could be had through the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) or the Agricultural Stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). CAHRC provided statistics, case studies and information which underscored the importance of the SAWP in filling the alarming agri-food workforce shortage. Invited by the CFA, the IICA Representative in Canada had the unique opportunity to share perspectives on benefits of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers’ Program (SAWP), which are less known or appreciated. Attention was drawn to the initiative conducted in Jamaica which confirmed opportunities and interest of participating SAWP workers to share knowledge gained in Canada for local agricultural applications. It is anticipated that this new dimension will be a consideration as the programs are reviewed for revision.
For more information: iica.ca@iica.int 5
Newsletter
IICA Delegation in Canada April - June 2018
Issue 2018-02
Welcoming Summer Research Intern, Camille Levesque, to IICA Canada As part of our ongoing interest in issues around food loss and waste, the IICA Delegation in Canada, in collaboration with the University of Laval's Legal Research Chair in Food Diversity and Security, has hired a summer Research Intern to conduct a study on food loss and waste in Canada. Specifically, the objective of the internship is to undertake a policy analysis aimed at uncovering the impacts of federal food safety requirements and industry-led voluntary guidelines on food loss and waste (FLW) in Canada, with a focus on the fresh produce industry. We are very excited to welcome Camille to the IICA Canada team, and look forward to the results of this important research project! In her own words.... I am a recent graduate of the Honours Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology option, from the University of Ottawa. As a part of my university degree, I completed four internships within the federal public service, at Statistics Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and most recently, two internships at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. At the CFIA, I analyzed data on bacterial contamination from the Agency’s regular microbiological monitoring programs, as well as on various research projects to inform policy decisions in the wake of foodborne illness outbreaks. My love for lab-based science over recent years has evolved into a love for seeing the “real world” applications of science, which includes seeing how science-based policy can be used to improve lives and health outcomes. In my spare time, I am a volunteer researcher at Ottawa’s Bridge Engagement Centre, where I perform community-based research aimed at improving health outcomes for Ottawa’s homeless, low-income and vulnerably-housed populations. At IICA, I will be performing literature research, interviews and a policy analysis to determine the impacts of federal food safety requirements and industry-led voluntary guidelines on food loss and waste in Canada, with a focus on the fresh fruit and vegetable sector. This internship has come at a perfect time in my professional life, as I transition out of student employment and into a career as, hopefully, a scientist within the federal public service. I believe in the value of looking at problems from various angles, and as someone with experience in food safety science, I look forward to learning more about the role of food safety policy in food loss and waste, and learning first-hand about the work that IICA does internationally. For more information: Audia Barnett audia.barnett@iica.int 6
Newsletter
IICA Delegation in Canada April - June 2018
Issue 2018-02
Coffee and Art Event Inspired by the Government of Canada’s new international development policy emphasizing gender equity, the delegation of IICA in Canada was pleased to host a Coffee and Art event on May 31, 2018 aimed at supporting local women artists who included agricultural themes in their repertoires. The IICA team was thrilled to have the very talented and well known Margaret Fietz, Jinny Slyfield, Cathy Vincent, and Joan V. McLean showcasing their paintings to our guests who included members of the Diplomatic Corps, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Global Affairs Canada, and also friends from our own Varette building. The office space was transformed for the day, with some 2 dozen pieces of work depicting Canadian agriculture and landscape scenes. This was accompanied by a slideshow of additional art, to the delight of our guests. As the event was tagged: Come for Coffee…Stay for the Art, coffee from our IICA member countries accompanied the treat! Special thanks the Embassies of Peru and Honduras as well as the High Commission of Jamaica for the donation of their native coffee. The feedback from those attending was great, with several persons asking whether we would make it a calendar activity! As one described it: “It was a classy event for sure”. The Delegation really enjoyed networking, appreciating great art and coffee, all while saluting our female artists.
For more information: Audia Barnett audia.barnett@iica.int
7