The Canadian Western Agribition was so popular this year that Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay used it as a backdrop on November 24 to announce initiatives and priorities for the $1 billion federal investment under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which is set to launch on April 1, 2018.
“This is an exciting new chapter for agriculture in Canada,” Minister MacAuley stated. “The Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s federal initiatives show our Government’s strong agenda for growth in agriculture and agri-food – one that will help build an even stronger, more innovative and sustainable sector.”
The Federal Government has identified agriculture and agri-food as a key growth sector. According to the Agriculture Ministry, farmers and food processors are the backbone of Canada’s economy, particularly in rural communities, ensuring safe, high-quality food for families across Canada, and around the world. “It will ensure Canadian farmers and food processors are well positioned to meet the world’s growing demand for our high-quality products,” said MacAulay about the new CAP investment.
Ottawa plans to make targeted investments in the sector with a priority focus on growing trade and expanding markets, innovative and sustainable growth of the sector, and, supporting diversity and a dynamic, evolving sector. To make this happen, the Federal Government has developed six federal programs to support these priorities and ensure the sector’s long-term prosperity: AgriMarketing, AgriCompetitiveness, AgriScience, AgriInnovate, AgriDiversity and AgriAssurance.
In July 2017, federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture reached an agreement on the key elements of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. CAP is a five-year, $3 billion investment by FPT governments to strengthen Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector. This agreement is aimed at achieving the Government’s goal to grow the country’s agriculture and food exports to $75 billion by 2025.
CAP will include federal programs and activities to expand domestic and international markets to seize key opportunities and address emerging needs, advance science and innovation, with an emphasis on sustainable and clean growth, and better reflect the diversity of communities, enhance collaboration across different jurisdictions and secure and support public trust. Business risk management programs will help producers manage significant risks that threaten the viability of their farm and are beyond their capacity to manage. BRM programs agreed by the agriculture ministers in July 2017 will come into effect for the 2018 program year. The existing program rules remain in effect for the 2016 and 2017 program years.
In 2016, Canada’s agriculture and food exports set a new record of over $60 billion. Canadian farmers and food processors export about half of their production by value.
