Ottawa (Rural Roots Canada) – Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector is calling on Ottawa to make agriculture a national priority, warning that years of underinvestment and policy neglect have put the industry and the country at a competitive disadvantage.

In an open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, alongside a large coalition of national agri-food and agricultural organizations, says now is the time to make agriculture a cornerstone of Canada’s future. They urge a bold shift in policy and investment to unlock its full potential.

“We welcome your government’s focus on strengthening the economy, including efforts to tackle productivity challenges, ease regulatory pressures, eliminate internal trade barriers, expand market access, and move forward with critically needed nation-building projects,” the letter reads. “However, this enthusiasm is tempered by ongoing concern that agriculture has too often been overlooked in national policy and investment decisions.”

The ag industry currently contributes nearly $150 billion annually to Canada’s GDP and employs 2.3 million people, more than the automotive, oil and gas, forestry, and steel sectors combined. However, Canada’s share of global agriculture exports has fallen by 12% since 2000, and average annual productivity growth is forecast to drop to 1% by 2030, down from 2.2% in the early 2000s.

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The letter also highlights a decline in public investment. Ag research and development spending has dropped from $860 million in 2013 to $680 million in 2022, putting Canada dead last among the top seven OECD nations in ag R&D.

The group says it’s time for a course correction.

“The time is now for agriculture to become a cornerstone of Canada’s future,” it says. “To change course, agriculture must be made a national priority, backed by meaningful investment and coordinated federal leadership. A renewed commitment to the sector can drive progress across multiple national objectives.”

The agri-food organizations point out that Canada’s agriculture and agri-food industry has averaged over $4 billion in annual GDP growth over the past decade. They say with the right investment in domestic production, value-added processing, productivity, and exports, the sector could potentially more than double that number and drive upwards an additional $100 billion in GDP growth over the next ten years, totalling up to $250 billion by 2035.

To get there, the group is calling for federal leadership on four fronts:

• Strategic Planning: Develop a national plan for agricultural growth that includes clear targets for production, exports, and workforce development, including Indigenous agriculture

• Regulatory Reform: Align regulatory mandates with agricultural competitiveness and reduce burdens that stifle innovation and investments.

• Infrastructure Investment: Improve trade and transportation infrastructure – rail, ports, cold chains, and rural networks – to ensure Canada remains a reliable supplier.

• Modernized Risk Management: Update policies and tools to reflect the current climate, market, and trade disruptions.

The letter ends with a clear message. “The countries that feed the world will increasingly shape it … Canada, with the capacity to feed both itself and others sustainably, has every reason, and every asset, to be among them. Without bold and immediate action from the federal government, the potential of the agriculture and agri-food sector will continue to be constrained, and we will miss this crucial opportunity.”