How did COVID-19 affect food systems in Canada?

The document highlights that one in five Canadians began growing food at home during the pandemic, often due to concerns over prices and shortages. It notes high concentration in the meat processing industry, where 85% of animals are processed in three plants that all faced outbreaks, and reports that one in seven Canadians experienced food insecurity in May 2020.

• The pandemic prompted a rise in home food production, with one in five Canadians starting to grow food at home. Two thirds of those who gardened in 2020 attributed their decision to the pandemic, citing concerns regarding food shortages and prices.
• Canada's meat processing sector is characterized by high concentration, with 85% of animals processed in three plants, all of which had COVID-19 outbreaks. In Alberta, meat and poultry facilities were linked to one in four COVID-19 cases by early May 2020.
• Food insecurity increased during the pandemic, with one in seven Canadians reporting a lack of access to enough safe and healthy food in May 2020. Individuals absent from work due to COVID-19 were nearly three times more likely to be food insecure than those who remained employed.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). How did COVID-19 affect food systems in Canada? https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-12/sustainable-food-systems-covid.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. How did COVID-19 affect food systems in Canada? n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-12/sustainable-food-systems-covid.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=How did COVID-19 affect food systems in Canada? |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-12/sustainable-food-systems-covid.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndhow, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{How did COVID-19 affect food systems in Canada?}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-12/sustainable-food-systems-covid.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }