The Weaponization of Food: Canada’s Blind Spot

You know, I've always said that government has three roles.

They can lead,

follow, or get the hell out of the way.

I never thought I would live the day to see some political leaders suggest suggests that the state, the

government, should be running grocery stores.

As a trading nation, Canada has a fundamental interest in global stability because it's very hard to sell things to people who are at war with one another.

And so Canada has an ability to leverage the abundance of natural wealth that it has to that effect.

We

don't think about this as being central to our farms.

This is the market and freedom of the next 30 years and how we own and commercialize our data.

Canada produces food on a global scale, but thinks about it as a commodity, not as a weapon, not as an asset, not as a system under threat.

Welcome to the Trent Clarenbeck Podcast.

I'm your host, Trent Clarenbeck.

Today we are diagnosing a strategic failure problem, the weaponization of food.

Joining me to determine how exposed we are is a formidable panel.

First, Professor Christian Leuprecht.

He is an award-winning professor at the Royal Military College of Canada.

An author, his latest book published in 2025 covers military operations in response to domestic emergencies and global pandemics.

Next is Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, widely known as the food professor.

He is a visiting professor in food policy and distribution at McGill University and the senior director of the agri-food analytics lab at Dalhousie University.

In 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III Medal in recognition of his tremendous work informing Canadians about food issues.

Also along with us, is the Honorable Jerry Ritz.

Driven by a lifelong passion for agriculture and a farmer's first mentality, he served for over eight years as Canada's Agriculture Minister.

Under his leadership, the Marketing Freedom for Green Farmers Act was passed in 2012, which removes the mandatory requirement to market wheat and barley through the Canadian Wheat Board.

Finally, Jason Dearborn.

He is the chairman and CEO of GRNX Global, where he is adapting agricultural technology and blockchain solutions.

Former legislature representing Kinnersley, Saskatchewan.

He is also a fifth generation owner operator of Breck Neck Farm.

Gentlemen, welcome to the show.

You know, I've always said that government has three roles.

They can lead,

follow, or get the hell out of the way.

I never thought I would live the day to see some political leaders suggest suggests that the state, the

government, should be running grocery stores.

As a trading nation, Canada has a fundamental interest in global stability because it's very hard to sell things to people who are at war with one another.

And so Canada has an ability to leverage the abundance of natural wealth that it has to that effect.

We

don't think about this as being central to our farms.

This is the market and freedom of the next 30 years and how we own and commercialize our data.

Canada produces food on a global scale, but thinks about it as a commodity, not as a weapon, not as an asset, not as a system under threat.

Welcome to the Trent Clarenbeck Podcast.

I'm your host, Trent Clarenbeck.

Today we are diagnosing a strategic failure problem, the weaponization of food.

Joining me to determine how exposed we are is a formidable panel.

First, Professor Christian Leuprecht.

He is an award-winning professor at the Royal Military College of Canada.

An author, his latest book published in 2025 covers military operations in response to domestic emergencies and global pandemics.

Next is Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, widely known as the food professor.

He is a visiting professor in food policy and distribution at McGill University and the senior director of the agri-food analytics lab at Dalhousie University.

In 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III Medal in recognition of his tremendous work informing Canadians about food issues.

Also along with us, is the Honorable Jerry Ritz.

Driven by a lifelong passion for agriculture and a farmer's first mentality, he served for over eight years as Canada's Agriculture Minister.

Under his leadership, the Marketing Freedom for Green Farmers Act was passed in 2012, which removes the mandatory requirement to market wheat and barley through the Canadian Wheat Board.

Finally, Jason Dearborn.

He is the chairman and CEO of GRNX Global, where he is adapting agricultural technology and blockchain solutions.

Former legislature representing Kinnersley, Saskatchewan.

He is also a fifth generation owner operator of Breck Neck Farm.

Gentlemen, welcome to the show.