Global tensions, rising costs take centre stage at Alberta agriculture summit

One of the biggest issues facing Canadian farmers these days is instability from costs of fuel, fertilizer and other materials needed to run a farm.

Leaders in Alberta’s agriculture sector are gathering in Calgary Monday with a growing list of concerns, which many of them say are far beyond the province’s control.

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The event, Alberta Next: Agribusiness, is being held at the BMO Centre and brings together producers, industry leaders and policymakers to talk about where the sector goes next.

One of the biggest issues right now is global instability.

The conflict involving Iran is pushing up the cost of fuel and fertilizer, a double hit for farmers who rely on diesel to run equipment and fertilizer to grow crops.

Some estimates suggest input costs have jumped between 20 and 40 per cent since the conflict began, putting pressure on already tight margins.

While much of the conversation at the event is focused on innovation and long-term opportunity, there is also a more immediate concern, whether producers can keep up.

Rising costs

As production costs climb, that pressure can ripple through the supply chain, eventually showing up in higher prices at the grocery store.

That reality was on display in Calgary over the weekend, where long lines formed for free potatoes handed out by the non-profit Guru Nanak Free Kitchen.

“The cost of groceries has basically doubled for me,” one person in line said. “We struggle but we are getting by.”

Economist Moshe Lander says the trend is widespread.

“Almost everything on the shopping list is going up in price, and for a lot of Canadians, it is rising faster than their income,” he said.

Recent data from Statistics Canada shows food purchased from stores rose 4.4 per cent year over year in March, with fresh produce seeing some of the biggest increases.