Senate Committee Tables Report on Innovation in Agriculture and the Agri-food Sector
Ottawa – The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry tabled its report today Innovation in Agriculture: The Key to Feeding a Growing Population. The committee undertook to examine the challenges facing the agriculture and agri-food sector and how research and innovation can help stakeholders overcome these challenges while adapting to the changing landscape in which they operate.
“The report recommends that the Government of Canada play a facilitating role in ensuring an environment that enables research, development and innovation in the market and the exchange of information among stakeholders and promote public-private partnerships. I am convinced that through the education of our farmers, cooperation amongst the stakeholders and science-based regulation to guide the agriculture and the agri-food sector, Canada can meet the challenges ahead and chart a successful course to the future.”
- Senator Percy Mockler, Chair
“Witnesses expressed the need to operate in an environment that facilitates research and innovation so they can continue to be productive and competitive on the domestic and international market. The committee hopes that the recommendations contained in the report will increase the contribution of research and innovation in the development of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.”
- Senator Terry M. Mercer, Deputy Chair
The committee first began this study in October, 2011 and it took place over two parliamentary sessions. During this time the committee heard from 170 witnesses from the entire supply chain, including producers, processors, retailers, consumers, researchers, financial institutions and representatives from provincial agencies, federal departments and agencies, and international organizations. The committee also undertook fact-finding mission in Canada and to the United States to conduct discussions with stakeholders where they worked and to see first-hand how innovation and research is important in the agriculture and agri-food sector. The final result of this study is a comprehensive report containing 19 recommendations.
To read the committee’s report and recommendations or to learn more about the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, please visit its website at https://sencanada.ca/en/committees/agfo/.
Follow the Senate of Canada on Twitter @SenateCA and use the committee hashtag #AGFO for updates on its activities.
