Press Release: A Call for Investment in Local Food Security

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. Tariffs Threaten Canadian Food & Farm Businesses – Fair Finance Fund Calls for Investment in Local Food Security

Toronto, Ontario – 15 February 2025 – As the U.S. government introduces new tariffs on Canadian goods, the urgency to strengthen Canada’s local food system has never been greater. With rising economic nationalism south of the border, the Fair Finance Fund (FFF), Ontario’s only social finance lender solely dedicated to local food and agriculture, is calling for renewed investment in Canada’s food sovereignty.

“Canadians–including all levels of government–need to pour our support and resources into local food systems to build self-reliance. Food sovereignty is national security."
- Justin Abbiss, Executive Director of Fair Finance Fund

The latest U.S. trade actions are a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in Canada’s food supply chain. With increased barriers to trade, Canadian farmers, food producers, and processors face uncertainty in export markets. Fair Finance Fund is stepping up to help food and farm enterprises scale up local production, ensuring that communities can rely on homegrown food systems instead of unstable international markets.

“The threat of tariffs make an already existing problem more visible: our national food supply chains are vulnerable and rely too heavily on the US,” says Abbiss, "At a time when global supply chains are fragile and trade relations are uncertain, Canada must prioritize policies and investments that reinforce our agricultural self-reliance." 

Since 2019, the Fair Finance Fund has provided affordable, flexible financing to Ontario’s food and farm businesses, prioritizing enterprises that create environmental, social, and economic benefits. With U.S. trade instability growing, the Fair Finance Fund urges impact-driven investors to mobilize capital toward strengthening Canada’s local food infrastructure.

Prioritizing Equity-Seeking Food & Farm Entrepreneurs

As economic pressures mount, it is equity-seeking farmers and food entrepreneurs—including Black, Indigenous, racialized, and newcomer farmers—who are often the most affected by disruptions in trade and supply chains. These businesses already face systemic barriers to accessing capital, land, and markets. Investing in their growth is not only a matter of economic resilience but a step toward building a more just and sustainable food system that reflects the diversity and strength of Canada’s agricultural sector. Fair Finance Fund is committed to breaking down these barriers by providing fair, flexible financing to support their success.

Says Abbiss, “Canadians–including all levels of government–need to pour our support and resources into local food systems to build self-reliance. Food sovereignty is national security."

Call to Action: Investing in Canada’s Food Future

Fair Finance Fund runs an ongoing impact investment campaign to help scale up local food production, processing, and distribution. Through the sale of community bonds, the Fund provides loans from $20,000 to $200,000 to farms, food processors, and community food enterprises that contribute to a sustainable and self-sufficient food economy.

“If any organization is ready for a rapid response, it’s Fair Finance Fund,” says Abbiss. “We are the only social finance lender solely focused on local food and agriculture in Ontario. Now is the time to invest in Canada-grown food security.”

To learn more about how to support Canada’s food sovereignty through investment, visit www.fairfinancefund.org or contact Rebecca Jacobs, Communications Coordinator, at communications@fairfinancefund.org

Media Contact:

Rebecca Jacobs
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
communications@fairfinancefund.org
www.fairfinancefund.org
@fairfinancefund