Having multiple, smaller farms is an advantage when it comes to food security. When many farms are spread across different regions, food supply is less affected by unpredictable events like storms, droughts, or disease outbreaks. If farms are smaller and spread out, an event will affect fewer farms and less of a country’s supply, reducing the risk for impact on consumer prices and availability.
But, if for example, a disease was to wipe out a single farm or area that offers 20% of a country’s eggs or strawberries, shortages may happen, and prices may well go up. It happened in the U.S. when a disease outbreak in a concentrated industry caused noticeable shortages of eggs and poultry in 2025.
Geographic diversity and smaller farm size are benefits of Canada’s supply management system, which helps keep farms in operation in all provinces.
