New suite of government programs to support Canadian agriculture
In 2018 Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada unveiled the new Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP), a five-year, $3 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the agriculture and agri-food sector. Investments under CAP focus on the following priorities:
- Growing trade and expanding markets
- Innovative and sustainable growth of the sector
- Supporting diversity and a dynamic, evolving sector
Six federal programs launched on April 1, 2018: AgriMarketing, AgriCompetitiveness, AgriScience, AgriInnovate, AgriDiversity and AgriAssurance.
Business Risk Management review now underway
Federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) agriculture ministers also announced changes to Business Risk Management programs and a commitment to maintain the current level of funding for strategic investments. They also announced a one-year review of BRM programming, as requested by CFA and other industry groups.
CFA and other associations collaborating through the AgGrowth Coalition have been recommending this review since January 2017 and look forward to working with FPT governments to ensure it is both comprehensive and adequately engaging producer groups throughout the process.
Several members of the AgGrowth Coalition have recently been appointed to the federal External Advisory Committee, which will advise the review process. This will help ensure that farmers have a voice in shaping the next generation of BRM policy and programs.
SEE ALSO:
- AgGrowth Coalition welcomes External Advisory Panel role
- AgGrowth Coalition poised for next steps in BRM review
- More about CFA recommendations on BRM programs
Background
In 2016, as the Growing Forward 2 suite of programs was nearing expiration, CFA published a comprehensive suite of policy and program recommendations. These were developed through three working groups that brought together perspectives from across CFA’s membership: the Strategic Investments Working Group, the Risk Management Working Group and the Market Development Working Group.
CFA also hosted a session with other producer and industry organizations to provide an overview of the policies and recommendations, allowing for other organizations to share their own positions and offer further insights.
The final report, entitled “The Next Agriculture Policy Framework: Positioning Canadian Agriculture for Continued Success” touches on a wide variety of areas, including:
- encouraging best management practices
- risk management tools to mitigate damages associated with increased weather volatility
- the coordination of market development investments
- investment in discovery science and agricultural research
- a government/industry backed national food strategy
- branding and an increased profile for Canadian food products as part of market assurance at home and abroad
- climate change adaptation and mitigation in order to make Canadian agriculture a world leader in sustainability
CFA continues to monitor developments and work with the governments to ensure funding and programs are responsive to industry needs.