In 2010, CAPI hosted a Leaders Summit on Food for a Healthy and Prosperous Future to explore how the agri-food and health sectors can work together to improve Canadians’ health and provide opportunities for innovation in the agri-food sector. The Summit revealed a clear message: change is possible when we collaborate. Compelling reasons and collaborative models were presented at the Summit. In May, CAPI released A Pathway to a Healthy & Prosperous Future: A Discussion Paper. The paper makes the case for change and offers a way to take action together. We’re moving forward to address some of the identified obstacles with our Leadership Panel on Food & Wellness Connection. Collaborating is a first step. It leads to step two: working together to develop a common vision — or destination — for Canada. Can the agri-food sector collaborate to improve consumer health? We believe so. Can we become the best in the world in doing so? We need to. Our concerted action needs to inspire all leaders across this country to act – including governments, the private sector, the health community and researchers.

In 2008, CAPI commissioned the McGill World Platform for Health and Economic Convergence to prepare a detailed discussion paper, entitled Building Convergence: Toward an Integrated Health and Agri-Food Strategy for Canada. The discussion paper was completed in May of 2009.

Along with the authors of the full paper, including Dr. Laurette Dubé (Professor, McGill University), the discussion paper was summarized by Dr. David Sparling, Chair of Agri-Food Innovation and Regulation at the Richard Ivey School of Business, in June 2009. This summary includes the detailed appendices of the full discussion paper.

The discussion paper recognizes initiatives being taken by governments to link health and agri-food policy and programs. It also points to the need for further change, such as the need for greater public investment in food related research and development. The document calls for improving the regulatory environment, advancing health claims for foods, and promoting traceability. As well, the discussion paper advocates the concept of a "Canadian diet" to generate awareness of health benefits from Canadian foods.

The discussion paper suggests that the agriculture and agri-food sector can benefit by responding to health care challenges and shifts in consumer preferences. By addressing these shifts, the agri-food sector can increase domestic consumption, as well as exports, of healthier foods.

» Read the press release
» Download the full report
» Web version
» Download the summary
» Summary web version

CAPI undertook previous work on this matter. In 2007, CAPI launched an initiative to examine the relationship between health and food, called Finding Common Ground: Food for a Healthy Agri-Food Sector. CAPI retained a project team of experts to research examples of integrated health and food initiatives around the world. The team concluded that an integrated strategy requires five elements:

• Strategic collaboration
• Research and innovation
• A regulatory and economic framework
• Population health and education
• Monitoring and evaluation

CAPI is now considering further research required to advance the concept of an integrated health and agri-food strategy for Canada.

Available publications

• Leaders Summit on Food for a Healthy and Prosperous Future: Proceedings Report
• A Pathway to a Healthy & Prosperous Future
• Advancing Canada’s Food and Health Agenda: Case Studies in Healthy Foods, May 2010
• Building Convergence:
  Toward an Integrated Health and Agri-Food Strategy for Canada
• Finding Common Ground: A Synthesis Report
• Finding Common Ground: A Technical Report
• Toward an Integrated Health and Agri-Food Strategy for Canada (brochure)