Canada’s agri-food system faces increasing pressure to adopt agri-food technologies: these pressures are diverse, stemming from food insecurity, climate change, population growth, demand for sustainable food, and other market trends. Canada is one of the more food-secure countries globally, yet no country is immune to food insecurity. In 2018, 12.7% of Canadian households were food insecure, with 8.7% of households experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity.15 These challenges are also not felt equally across demographic groups: single-parent households, low-income households, and rental households are at higher risk of food insecurity, as are individuals who identify as Black or Indigenous.16 Decades of research connect food insecurity in Canada to poor mental health outcomes,17 increased prevalence of chronic health conditions,18 and higher rates of mortality.19 Health outcomes in turn impact healthcare costs.20
