Five years ago, many Canadians feared that the country was running out of food.
Police officers were stationed at grocery stores to manage traffic, as panicked consumers flooded aisles with uncertainty about when they might next have access to essential goods. The fear of an unfamiliar and deadly virus compounded the situation, leading to unprecedented levels of panic buying. Store shelves were emptied at a pace never before witnessed in a country as agriculturally abundant as Canada.
Of course, Canada was never truly at risk of running out of food. The chaos of early 2020 revealed the limits of just-in-time inventory systems but also reinforced the resilience of our food supply chains. While trust in an invisible system is difficult, most Canadians have since come to appreciate its reliability — even in the face of immense disruption.
Since that turbulent period, we have faced our share of supply chain challenges. Shortages, once unthinkable, have become a manageable inconvenience rather than a crisis. The 2022 dispute between Frito-Lay and Loblaw, which left snack aisles bare for weeks, was met with public indifference — an indication of how attitudes have evolved.
The supply chain disruptions of the pandemic’s early years were far more severe, yet the most significant economic shock came with Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. This geopolitical event triggered a spike in commodity prices, driving up food costs globally and straining household budgets in Canada and beyond. The ripple effects of that crisis continue to be felt today.
Interestingly, between 2020 and 2024, trade disruptions such as tariffs and embargoes — once staples of global geopolitics — were momentarily sidelined as most governments and industries focused on pandemic recovery and economic stability. Even major players like China and Russia operated with relative restraint during this period, allowing food supply chains some room to recalibrate.
Despite these challenges, Canada’s food system has remained remarkably robust. A strong agricultural foundation ensures that the country produces more than enough food to sustain itself, with vast arable land and advanced farming techniques supporting both domestic consumption and export markets. Canada’s diversified trade relationships also serve as a buffer, reducing dependency on any single country and allowing for flexibility when geopolitical conflicts or economic shocks arise.
Beyond trade, Canada’s grocery and food distribution networks have proven highly adaptable. Major retailers have developed sophisticated inventory management systems, allowing them to adjust sourcing strategies and respond swiftly to demand fluctuations. Government policies and regulatory oversight have also played a role in maintaining stability, ensuring food safety and supporting key industry players through crises.
Meanwhile, innovation in food production has helped mitigate risks associated with labor shortages and supply chain disruptions. Investments in automation, precision agriculture, and digital supply chain tracking have made the industry more resilient.
Perhaps one of the most significant pillars of Canada’s food security is its close economic integration with the United States. The Canada-U.S. agricultural trade relationship is one of the strongest in the world, ensuring the smooth movement of food across borders. However, this critical pillar is now being tested under President Trump. The return of trade instability, including tariff threats and renewed protectionism, places additional pressure on an already strained supply chain. The cost implications of such disruptions could force Canada’s food industry to seek alternative sourcing and distribution strategies, increasing prices for consumers.
If Trump had remained in office beyond his first term, one can only speculate how his administration might have navigated both the latter years of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine —potentially treating the global economy as little more than a high-stakes game of Monopoly.
Despite these ongoing disruptions, one fact remains clear: Canada’s food industry has demonstrated its ability to withstand crises. Farmers, truckers, processors, manufacturers, grocers, restaurant owners, and frontline retail workers have endured five years of extraordinary volatility. Their efforts have ensured that Canadians continue to have access to safe, reliable food, even in the face of global uncertainty.
If there is one lesson to take away from the empty shelves of March 2020, it is that our food supply chains are built to withstand adversity. While no system is infallible, Canada’s agri-food sector has proven its ability to adapt and deliver — no matter the challenge.
For that, we should be grateful.
-Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is the Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and co-host of The Food Professor Podcast