P.E.I. potato farmers are facing a new challenge as they get ready to plant their crop for 2026, and it’s not the weather or fertilizer costs.
Experts say the food industry is being reshaped by the growing number of people taking GLP-1 agonists — a class of medications that are used to treat diabetes and to aid weight loss.
They are changing how Canadians, eat, drink and shop, including their consumption of potatoes and products made from them like chips and french fries.
Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab released the results of a national survey in late 2025, and it showed a growing number of Canadians using GLP-1 drugs.
“We actually figured that that almost 1.9 million Canadians are actually now using a GLP-1 drug, which is the equivalent of the population of New Brunswick and Manitoba combined,” said Sylvain Charlebois, the lab’s director.
“So it’s a lot of people, and we are expecting that number to continue to rise.”
The survey also reported that more than half of the drugs’ consumers said they are eating less, 27 per cent are going to restaurants less often, and almost 20 per cent are buying fewer groceries.
The estimated impact on the Canadian food economy: more than $3.3 billion in lost sales a year.
Charlebois said GLP-1s represent a growing challenge for P.E.I.’s potato industry, especially with the impending release of generic versions of the drugs.
“If that solution becomes financially affordable, we are expecting more and more people to actually use a GLP-1, which will again impact the demand for alcohol, sugary products, and obviously snacking,” he said.
“People are going to the restaurant, but they’re not eating as much. They’re not eating the extras. And french fries are often seen as extras.”
People in P.E.I.’s potato industry have been following the news around GLP-1 drugs. It’s been a topic at several industry conferences, and on national marketing calls.
Jennifer Harris with the P.E.I. Potato Board and the owner of Island Growers Co. said it’s important for her industry to get the message out about the nutritional value of potatoes.
“I think potatoes, they get a bad rap unfortunately, and they actually are packed full of nutrients and minerals,” she said.
“You can get 45 per cent of your daily intake of vitamin C. There’s more potassium in a potato than there is a banana. There’s zinc, there’s B6, there’s fiber.”
Charlebois said proteins are seeing a surge in interest. Sales are sagging for foods that are relatively low in protein, including potatoes.
But he said the food industry is starting to adapt, and he anticipates innovation from the potato sector as well.
“I think the industry will actually have to figure out a reason to get people to reconsider potatoes,” Charlebois said.
“You can do a lot of different things with potatoes. But my guess is that the industry will have to start becoming more creative in the future to actually keep people engaged with … with the product.”
He cited the recent spike in interest in cottage cheese — spurred by younger generations on social media — as a good case study for the potato industry.
“For the potatoes, they need to think about the younger generations,” Charlebois said. “The future is in the younger generations. And the cottage cheese phenomena is a good example of how you can do that.”
For those in watching the trends in Prince Edward Island’s industry, ignoring the rise of GLP-1s could be too costly to ignore.
“I think we would be naive to ignore it. I think it’s a segment that we should definitely be researching and, and paying attention to,” Harris said.
“I’m biased, but I like to still believe that it is a wholesome product, it’s a nutritious product. And in the end, that will weigh out.”
