Western Canada’s Flooded Supply Chain
Report examines disruptions in Western Canada’s food supply chain, highlighting vulnerabilities in infrastructure and distribution systems.
The Simpson Centre initiated a focus group for agricultural industry stakeholders to assess the effects and needs triggered by the B.C. Floods in November 2021. While many participants faced immediate challenges in the wake of the floods, a unanimous consensus indicated concerns lie in strengthening and diversifying Canada’s agricultural supply chain infrastructure in the long‐term. The majority of frustrations voiced by participants were rooted in lack of communication and immediate support from government. Transportation and travel affected both the distribution of product and input, as well as the ability to tend to livestock and crops trapped or isolated due to flood waters. Nearly all short‐term concerns discussed by participants were linked to this interruption in transit, ranging from water contamination from livestock carcasses to economic losses due to product waste.
By Caitland Reynolds, Rachelle Drummond, Elena Vinco, Guillaume Lhermie
Published January 31, 2022.