Food security is a growing societal challenge. The pressure to feed a projected global population of 9.6 billion by 2050 will continue to be limited by decreasing arable land. The recent disruptions in international trade resulting from responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the importance of regional self-reliance in food production. While Canada is highly self-reliant in food categories such as meat and dairy, the nation relies heavily on international imports to fulfill fresh vegetable demands. In potential future scenarios where international trade faces disruptions, Canadian food security could be at risk. By providing local sources of fresh foods year-round, the greenhouse vegetable industry holds strong potential to overcome future food supply shortages and could become a critical contributor to self-sustainable food production in Canada. Many challenges, however, surround the Canadian greenhouse industry. Some challenges include the persistence and spread of infectious plant pathogens and forecasted labour shortages. Opportunities to alleviate such challenges include introducing more diverse commodity groups and integrating innovative technologies to accelerate efficiency within the industry. In this commentary, we examine the current state of the Canadian greenhouse industry, explore potential challenges, and highlight opportunities that could promote food security across the nation.

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加拿大温室运营及其加强国内粮食安全的潜力

粮食安全是一项日益严峻的社会挑战。到 2050 年养活预计的全球 96 亿人口的压力将继续受到耕地减少的限制。最近因应对 COVID-19 大流行而导致的国际贸易中断凸显了区域自力更生在粮食生产中的重要性。虽然加拿大在肉类和乳制品等食品类别上高度自给自足，但该国严重依赖国际进口来满足新鲜蔬菜的需求。在国际贸易面临中断的潜在未来情景中，加拿大的粮食安全可能面临风险。通过全年提供当地新鲜食物来源，温室蔬菜产业具有克服未来食品供应短缺的巨大潜力，并可能成为加拿大自给自足食品生产的重要贡献者。然而，许多挑战围绕着加拿大温室产业。一些挑战包括传染性植物病原体的持续存在和传播以及预计的劳动力短缺。缓解此类挑战的机会包括引入更多样化的商品组和整合创新技术以提高行业效率。在这篇评论中，我们研究了加拿大温室产业的现状，探讨了潜在的挑战，并强调了可以促进全国粮食安全的机遇。一些挑战包括传染性植物病原体的持续存在和传播以及预计的劳动力短缺。缓解此类挑战的机会包括引入更多样化的商品组和整合创新技术以提高行业效率。在这篇评论中，我们研究了加拿大温室产业的现状，探讨了潜在的挑战，并强调了可以促进全国粮食安全的机遇。一些挑战包括传染性植物病原体的持续存在和传播以及预计的劳动力短缺。缓解此类挑战的机会包括引入更多样化的商品组和整合创新技术以提高行业效率。在这篇评论中，我们研究了加拿大温室产业的现状，探讨了潜在的挑战，并强调了可以促进全国粮食安全的机遇。