Agriculture

Canada is part of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement). NAFTA is an agreement signed by Canada, the United States and Mexico that created rules for trading between the countries. The agreement, signed into effect on January 1, 1994, brought the immediate elimination of tariffs on more than one-half of Mexico's exports to the U.S. and more than one-third of U.S. exports to Mexico. Most U.S.-Canada trade was already duty-free. NAFTA also seeks to eliminate non-tariff trade barriers and to protect the intellectual property right of the products.

Source: http://www5.agr.gc.ca/resources/prod/Internet-Internet/MISB-DGSIM/ATS-SEA/images/5489001-eng.gif

This graphic shows the different products associated with each province and territory of Canada. Dairy products and grains are the most commonly cultivated crops in Canada.

Source: http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/images/ressources/quotidien/agriculture-eng.jpg

The 2011 Census of Agriculture found fewer than 1% of Canadians are farm operators. Yet, all Canadians participate in the agri-food sector when they go grocery shopping and make food choices.

Source: http://www.nongmoproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Bilingual-300x145.jpg

Much like in the USA, genetically modified foods are an area of controversy in Canada. Canada regulates products derived from biotechnology processes as part of its existing regulatory framework for “novel products.”  The focus is on the traits expressed in the products and not on the method used to introduce those traits. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for regulating genetically modified (GM) plants and approving GM feed for animals.  Health Canada is mandated to assess the safety of foods for human consumption, including genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in foodstuff, and for authorizing them to be sold in Canada. Advertising or labeling the presence of GMOs in particular food is voluntary unless there is a health or safety concern.

sources: http://www.loc.gov/law/help/restrictions-on-gmos/canada.php, http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/96-325-x/96-325-x2014001-eng.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Free_Trade_Agreement