Calgary is on the cusp of something extraordinary. Within the next decade, our city is expected to grow toward two million people. That growth brings enormous opportunity, but also real responsibility. As we imagine the best Calgary possible, one industry – my industry – deserves far more attention than it typically receives: agriculture and food.
For many, agriculture still conjures images of rural fields far from city limits. In reality, Calgary is one of Canada’s most important urban centres for agriculture and food. We are a headquarters city – a place where decisions are made, capital is deployed, technology is developed, and Canadian food is connected to global markets. Hundreds of agriculture, food processing, logistics, and ag‑technology companies call Calgary home, supporting tens of thousands of high‑value jobs in engineering, data science, finance, marketing, and global trade.
It is precisely these strengths that led us to establish AdFarm in Calgary – and why it remains our global headquarters today. Calgary sits at the intersection of production and innovation, with access to producers, global markets, capital, and talent. It is a city that understands agriculture not as a legacy sector, but as a modern, globally relevant industry.
As Calgary grows, so does demand for safe, affordable, and diverse food. A city of two million creates the scale needed to support more local, national, and global processing, stronger distribution networks, and continued innovation across the food system. Proximity to one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world gives Calgary a structural advantage. Southern Alberta alone contains the majority of Canada’s irrigated land, enabling efficient, reliable food production close to a growing urban population. And “cow town” is known globally for world‑class beef and the Calgary Stampede.
But the opportunity goes well beyond feeding ourselves.
Globally, food security has become a defining issue of our time. Population growth, climate volatility, geopolitical instability, and supply‑chain disruptions have all underscored a simple truth: food is strategic. Canada is one of the few countries with the land, water, expertise, and trust to expand food production responsibly. As a hub for investment, innovation, and global agri‑food leadership, Calgary is well positioned to play a central role in that story.
This is also an industry with deep purpose – and broad opportunity.
We feed people – here at home, across Canada, and around the world. We take stewardship seriously, managing water, soil, grasslands, animals, and wildlife with a long‑term mindset. Sustainability is not a slogan in agriculture; it is a requirement passed from one generation to the next. And perhaps most importantly, this sector offers meaningful pathways not only for producers, but for builders, investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals of all kinds. It is no coincidence that “culture” lives right inside the word agriCULTURE. Collaboration, resilience, and responsibility are woven into how this industry operates.
Growth, however, is not without challenges.
As Alberta and Calgary expand, pressure on land use will intensify. Infrastructure and logistics systems – from roads and rail to cold storage and export corridor – must keep pace. The industry also faces a growing labour challenge, competing for skilled workers in an increasingly tight market. These are not reasons to slow down, but reminders that foresight matters. Strategic land‑use decisions, sustained infrastructure investment, and clearer pathways into agriculture and food careers will be essential if Calgary is to fully capitalize on the opportunity ahead.
The most important point is this: agriculture and food are not legacy industries. They are future industries.
They are technology‑enabled, innovation‑driven, globally relevant, and resilient through economic cycles. They offer long‑term careers, attract patient capital, and align with the most fundamental human need – to eat.
As Calgary moves toward two million people, we have a choice. We can view food and agriculture as something that happens elsewhere, or we can recognize and strengthen our role as one of Canada’s most important food cities. If we choose the latter, thoughtfully and deliberately, we will build a Calgary that is not only bigger, but stronger, more resilient, and deeply connected to the world.
And that is a future worth growing.
Kim McConnell – a leading voice in Canada’s agriculture industry – is a founder and the former CEO of AdFarm, one of the largest agricultural marketing communications firms in North America.
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As part of our special Postmedia Calgary series Countdown to 2 Million, we created a virtual think tank of three dozen community leaders who are sharing their thoughts on how to build the best Calgary. Find more columns and related videos at calgaryherald.com/countdown-to-2-million .
We’d like to hear and publish your ideas, too. What should Calgarians be doing and thinking about, as our city’s population heads towards 2 million? Email us at reply2@calgaryherald.com .