Bold action needed for agricultural growth

CropLife Canada is calling on the federal government to prioritize agriculture by making changes that can help unlock over $100B in GDP growth over the next decade.

CropLife Canada joined other national agricultural organizations in a joint letter to the Prime Minister, urging the government to act now.

President and CEO Pierre Petelle said there is a critical need for Ottawa to adopt a mindset that positions agriculture as an economic superpower.

“There has been considerable talk about unleashing Canada’s economy and agriculture cannot be overlooked as a national priority,” Petelle said.

The agricultural sector faced significant hurdles that hinder its growth, including timely approvals for new agricultural innovations like seed and crop protection products.

“While there are many things outside of Canada’s control like extreme weather events and tariffs, the regulatory system is within its control,” he added.

While Canadian farmers used to be among the first to have access to new crop protection tools, they are now often left waiting while their competitors in other countries reap the benefits of the technologies, according to Petelle.

“There are currently half as many submissions of pesticides seeking regulatory approval in Canada as there were a decade ago, and yet the timelines for approval have nearly doubled. This puts Canada at risk of falling further behind other nations that have established more efficient and predictable regulatory frameworks.”