Feed

Canada's agri-food system relies on temporary migrant workers (TMW), yet many experience precarious conditions and barriers to accessing adequate, nutritious food during their stay. Despite advocacy for improved conditions, empirical data on TMWs' food insecurity, and on several social determinants of health (SDoH), remain limited in Canada. We address this gap by comparing SDoH, including TMW living and working conditions, food insecurity, and health in Québec's agriculture and food manufacturing sectors.

A cross-sectional survey was embedded within a multiple case study, with agriculture and food manufacturing selected as sectoral cases characterised by similar and different structural SDoH. A total of 283 TMW (152 agriculture, 131 food manufacturing) completed interviewer-administered questionnaires covering the Household Food Security Survey Module, SDoH, and health.

Agricultural TMW were more often housed by employers (98.7% vs. 36.6%; p < 0.001) and living on-site than food manufacturing TMW (77.0% vs. 13.7%; p < 0.001). Agricultural TMW shared housing with more people (9 vs. 3; p < 0.001), and their employers decided more frequently when and how to get food (30.9% vs. 6.1%; p < 0.001). Food insecurity was more prevalent among agricultural TMW (66.4% vs. 41.9%, p < 0.001). Perceived health, mental health, and life stress were similar across sectors.

Although TMW in both sectors experience troubling SDoH and high food insecurity, agricultural TMW have more disadvantaged profiles. Findings underscore how the very agri-food system that TMW sustain also determines the conditions that constrain their food security in Canada. Action on modifiable SDoH may reduce inequities.