An overview of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food system : Vue d'ensemble du système agricole et agroalimentaire canadien

It is meant to be a multi-purpose reference document that presents: • the agriculture and agri-food system in the context of the Canadian economy and international markets; and • a snapshot of the composition and performance of the agriculture and agri-food system as it evolves in response to challenges, opportunities and market developments. [...] It also reviews the degree and extent of innovation in the agriculture and agri-food sector, which is key to the ability of the sector to address challenges and take advantage of opportunities in the changing domestic and global market. [...] An Overview of the Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food System 2015 11 Food and Beverage Processing • The food and beverage processing industry is the largest of all manufacturing industries in Canada, accounting for the largest share (16.0%) of the total manufacturing sector’s GDP in 2013. [...] Analysis of the extent of food loss and waste in Canada, the U. S., and other developed countries shows that most of the food loss and waste occurs in households and in the food retail and service sectors. [...] Percent  of  Commodity  Food  Supply In both Canada and the U. S., about one third of food available for consumption was lost or wasted in households and at the retail level in 2010 In Canada, 6 billion kilograms of Chart A.5 food was lost or wasted at the Retail and Household Food Loss and Waste as a Proportion of the Commodity Food Supply, Canada, 2010 household and retail levels, or 29.4% of t