Too far or not far enough? Report on dairy modernization stops well short of abolishing supply management

Those opposed to supply management of dairy in Canada often point to other countries that have moved away from the system as success stories. But delving deeper into some of these systems shows that not all dairy value chains can be compared apples to apples (carton to carton?), but that like it or not, the global dairy market is also not short on supply. Where does that leave Canada on modernizing its system, if in fact that’s a stated goal?

In a RealAg Radio issues panel hosted by Shaun Haney, Christina Crowley-Arklie, of Crowley+Arklie Strategy, and Meagan Murdoch, of National PR, and Lyndsey Smith, of RealAgriculture, discuss a recent report that suggested a plan for modernizing the dairy industry over the next 20 years.

The report, put out by Dalhousie University and the University of Guelph’s Arrell Food Institute, includes four steps to achieve this, including a quota buy-back system, and more price transparency, but falls well short of ending supply management in most senses.

Listen on to hear the panelists’ thoughts, including a first-hand account of the New Zealand model, and what it means to be innovative in dairy:

Wake up with RealAgriculture

Subscribe to our daily newsletters to keep you up-to-date with our latest coverage every morning.

Wake up with RealAgriculture