Agri-Food Economic Strategy Table: Propelling the Sector Forward February 2019

How it all started Government of Canada created six Economic Strategy Tables (EST) to support innovation in potential high-growth sectors. Agri-food sector was one of the six Tables, recognizing it as a key driver economic growth in Canada. 15 members representing all parts of value chain from primary agriculture production to food processing and fish, seafood, and aquaculture The Tables were tasked to: set ambitious growth targets; identify sector-specific challenges and “bottlenecks”; bring forward bold ideas; and develop an action plan to achieve these goals.

Agri-Food EST Recommendations Regulations: Rank in the top 10 among OECD countries for ease of regulatory burden by 2025. Infrastructure: Rank in the top 10 among OECD countries in the World Bank infrastructure Index by 2025. Also, have 100% broadband coverage. Labour and Skills: Reduce job vacancy in primary agriculture to 4% and food manufacturing to 2.2% by 2025. Increase female representation in food processing industry management to 50% by 2025.

Agri-Food EST Recommendations Market Diversification Proposal: Develop and diversify Canada’s agri-food markets. Target: Canada will achieve $85 billion in exports and $140 billion in domestic sales by 2025.

Agri-Food EST Recommendations Innovation Proposal: Invest in innovation and boost competitiveness through increased automation and digitization. Targets: Canada will increase its food industry capital expenditures per dollar of sales by 50% by 2025. Canada will double its food industry private-sector R&D expenditures by 2025.

Cross-Table Recommendations

Taking Action: Fall Economic Statement Inclusion of economic growth into regulators’ mandates Creation of Advisory Committee on Regulatory Competitiveness Development of Centre for Regulatory Innovation Early deliverables from Agri-food Regulatory Review Regulations Launch of Export Diversification Strategy, including more Trade Commissioners and exporter support $25M/5 years for market diversification in Agriculture Includes specific funding for work on international standard-setting bodies Market Diversification Acceleration of funding in National Trade Corridors Fund Additional funding ($13.6M/3 years) for Multimodal Integrated Passenger-Freight Information System Infrastructure Immediate write-off of cost of machinery and equipment for manufacturing or processing of goods and for clean energy equipment; accelerated capital cost allowance for all businesses Additional $800M to Strategic Innovation Fund with a subsequent announcement for an agri-food-specific challenge Innovation and Investment

Next Steps The Economic Strategy Tables are calling on industry and governments to work together, to be ambitious and innovative, and to “think big”. The Government is continuing to review the recommendations in the final report and identify opportunities to act. Industry has a key role in putting its efforts towards working to achieve the vision outlined by the Table.

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” -- Abraham Lincoln