Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector is a key driver of economic growth, innovation and trade. Economic indicators show a strong and dynamic Canadian agricultural sector, with a growing global middle class looking for our world-class products.
Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister, Lawrence MacAulay, celebrated Canada’s Agriculture Day alongside farmers, ranchers, food processors, industry leaders and youth today in Ottawa, where he officially launched the six federal programs under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (see Backgrounder).
The Partnership is a progressive $3-billion, federal-provincial-territorial agreement that will help chart the course for government investments in the sector over the next five years.
Developed with input from provincial and territorial partners, as well as industry, federal programs and activities under the Partnership will focus on three key areas:
- Growing trade and expanding markets ($297 million) - Providing core industry services, such as timely market information and sector expertise to help improve the sector’s competitiveness, growth and adaptability. Advancing and defending international trade interests, as well as improving market development and market access activities to address emerging needs of the sector, and of small and medium enterprises (SME). This will help expand markets and trading opportunities for the sector.
- Innovative and sustainable growth of the sector ($690 million) - Enhancing the competitiveness of the sector through research, science and innovation, and adoption of innovative products and practices, with an emphasis on the environment and clean growth. The Government will help support the resiliency and sustainability of the sector, helping farmers adapt to climate change, conserve water and soil resources, and grow their businesses sustainably to meet increasing global food demand.
- Supporting diversity and a dynamic, evolving sector ($166.5 million) - Strengthening the sector by better reflecting the diversity of Canadian communities, enhancing collaboration across different jurisdictions through a new Regional Collaborative Partnerships Program, securing and supporting public trust in the sector, and improving client services.
These three key areas include $686.5 million over five years in federal programs, and $467 million of federally funded activities that benefit producers and processors and address priorities identified by the agricultural sector during consultations in the development of the framework. These investments will support trade policy and market access, trade commissioners, market development, market information, value chain roundtables, foundational science led by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and support for regulatory systems and regional collaboration.
Budget 2017 clearly outlines a strong commitment to the agriculture and agri-food sector and its importance to the Canadian economy. It outlines investments inside and outside the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to help the agriculture and food sector reach new heights. Specifically, Budget 2017 includes a strengthened focus on trade, along with investments in the areas of innovation through the $950 million, five-year, Innovation Superclusters Initiative, infrastructure, and value-added industries through the $1.2 billion Strategic Innovation Fund, which will all help Canada unleash the sector’s growth potential.
Source : Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada