b'The Headlines Business | People | Policy | Product | ResearchSubmissions welcome: news@seedworldgroup.comFood Prices Predicted to Rise 2.5 to 4.5%Canadas Food Price Report 2024 forecasts overall food prices will increase by 2.5 to 4.5%. The aver-age family of four will spend $16,297.20 on food in 2024, up $701.79 from last year. The most signifi-cant increases range from 5-7% for bakery, meat and vegetable items. 2023 was a tumultuous year politically, environmentally and economically, with unprecedented wildfires and flooding happening across Canada. Canadians are facing many financial pressures, such as higher rental rates and utilities and rising personal debt. Despite inflation, Canadians spent less on food in 2023. Food retail sales data show a decline in monthly spending per capita between August 2022 and August 2023. Estimated annual spending for a family of four last year was $693 lower than originally projected.BUSINESS CMBTC Releases 2024 Recommended MaltOttawa Creates Canola Cluster Barley ListThe federal government is giving over $9 mil- The Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre lion to the Canola Council of Canada through the(CMBTC) has published its 2024-2025 list of AgriScience ProgramClusters Component torecommended malting barley varieties. The guide create the Canola Cluster. The goal of the clusteroffers producers and industry insights into preferred is to sustainably increase canola productivity, helpvarieties based on agronomics, quality and market the canola sector meet rising global demands anddemand. The 2024-25 list contains five main varieties: improve Canadas global competitiveness. To do thisAAC Synergy, CDC Copeland, AAC Connect, CDC the project will focus on three priority areas includingFraser and for the first time, CDC Churchill. Newer research on sustainable and reliable supply; increasingvarieties such as AAC Connect and CDC Fraser value; and ensuring stable and open trade. are steadily gaining acceptance in the malting and brewing industries, although the process takes time, Plant Protein Partners Developing AI Technology tosaid Peter Watts, managing director at the CMBTC. Improve Crop and Ingredient Quality This years list also contains changes that provide Showcasing the potential of Canadas full plant- additional information detailing the demand differ-based value chain, companies from across the sectorences between domestic and international categories. have partnered to develop new artificial intelligenceNewer varieties tend to be adopted more quickly in technology that is expected to improve the qualitythe domestic malting industry, whereas older varieties of Canadas protein crops and ingredients. With themay be phased out sooner compared with interna-support of Protein Industries Canada, project partnerstional markets.Enns Bros., Crop Sentry, DL Seeds and AGT Foods will develop the technology to meet the needs ofPEOPLEfarmers and ingredient processors alike. Building onGreg, Sarah Stamp Named Canadas Outstanding the IoT sensor system previously developed by CropYoung Farmers Sentry, the partners will optimize in-field sensorsGreg and Sarah Stamp of Stamp Seeds in Enchant, for pea and canola crops to autonomously gatherAlta., were picked as one of two national farming phenotype data throughout the growing season.family winners of Canadas Outstanding Young This in-field data-gathering will help farmers betterFarmers (COYF) of 2023 at the national event held collect measurements related to crop quality, lead- in Laval, Que. Every year the regional finalists ing to improved data-driven decisions that will havechallenge the judges like never before. The future of positive ripple effects up the value chain. The endagriculture is in good hands if young farmers like the result will mean improved products for consumers toones that gathered at the COYF national program enjoy, while strengthening Canadas supply chain andin Laval are involved. They all showcased incredible economy. operations. Greg and Sarah Stamp of Stamp Seeds 46GERMINATION.CAJANUARY 2024'