The Government of Canada is supporting innovation in agriculture to capitalize on growth opportunities and create jobs for Canadians. Budget 2017 sets the ambitious goal of growing Canada’s agri-food exports to $75 billion annually by 2025.
Promoting these initiatives, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, delivered remarks today at the opening of SIAL Canada 2017, the largest food innovation trade show in North America. Minister MacAulay was accompanied by Phil Hogan, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, who participated at SIAL as part of a mission to Canada to foster new business relationships in the lead up to the implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA).
Minister MacAulay highlighted the mutual benefits of CETA for the agriculture and agri-food industries in Canada and the EU. Industry estimates the historic agreement signed by Canada and the EU will expand Canada’s agri-food exports by an estimated $1.5 billion a year to the world’s largest market for food.
Minister MacAulay and Commissioner Hogan also delivered remarks at an EU-hosted information session earlier in the day that focused on key outcomes for agriculture under CETA. The session highlighted opportunities for Canadian and European agricultural exporters to take full advantage of the benefits of CETA.
Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open SIAL, Minister MacAulay and Commissioner Hogan toured the tradeshow to engage with industry representatives, where they sampled many of the innovative food products on display from around the world. Their tour included a stop at the EU pavilion.
Source : Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada