OTTAWA, ON, The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced that applications are now being accepted for federal programs under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) that will go into effect on April 1, 2023. Federal, provincial and territorial governments are investing a record $3.5 billion in the new five-year agreement to position the sector for continued success as a global leader in agriculture that is environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable.
The federal programs, which include AgriAssurance, AgriCompetitiveness, AgriDiversity, AgriInnovate, AgriMarketing and AgriScience, are currently delivered through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership and are being renewed for five years to support key priority areas, including:
- strengthening the sector's ability to grow by focusing on technological advances, attracting a new generation of farmers and creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce;
- accelerating the development and adoption of research and innovation in both primary agriculture and value-added processing;
- advancing measurable action on climate change and the environment, including a reduction of 3-5 MT in greenhouse gas emissions;
- expanding markets for Canadian exports through global business development and trade promotion, supported by a stronger and more resilient supply chain, with a goal of increasing exports to $95 billion and overall industry sales to $250 billion by 2028;
- establishing even greater trust in the sector by developing and enhancing quality and safety assurance systems.
The six federal programs are part of a $1 billion investment that also includes support for trade policy and market access, market development, market information and regulations, sector engagement tables, and foundational science led by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.