Policy makers want farm input

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

Have Canada’s policy makers captured the right issues to foster agriculture’s success in 2020 and beyond? How can the country’s agriculture industry and government work together to foster “a modern, market-responsive agriculture and agri-food sector that is resilient, competitive and sustainable?”

Those are just some of the questions the federal government is putting to farmers and others in the country’s agriculture sector as it begins to develop a successor to the Growing Forward agricultural policy framework.

And, according to a Wednesday news release, you have until June 30 to provide your feedback online.

The online presence is one of a number of strategies the federal government and its provincial and territorial partners are using to gather feedback while shaping the next national agricultural policy.

Last year, the federal government and its provincial and territorial partners consulted with farm leaders and other industry stakeholders to identify challenges and opportunities for the sector.

Since March, they have hosted meetings across the country to discuss the priorities identified.

The online consultation includes a discussion paper, information about the new policy consultation process and a feedback form.

The new framework takes effect once the current five-year policy expires in 2013.
According to the online discussion paper, called Charting the Way Forward to 2020, the new policy “will be an evolution of previous frameworks” and proposes to “better position the sector for growth by capturing opportunities and addressing challenges needed to succeed in the future.”

Calling Canada a “major player” in global markets, the discussion paper notes:

• While there are international market opportunities, especially as the European Union and the United States are “largely mature markets and are expected to have less growth potential,” the slow progress of international trade talks may present a roadblock;
• Concerns about the environment, animal welfare and human health have raised the profile of food production systems with the Canadian public;
• Global uncertainty over food availability and prices has raised food security concerns;
• Consumers want more diverse products;
• Global retailers and processors are embracing labels and certifications that communicate certain standards are in place, such as the Global Food Safety Initiative certification; and
• There is significant growth of supermarket chains in emerging economies such as Mexico, Russia, India and China and to supply “large domestic and global retailers such as Walmart, Tesco and Carrefour, suppliers needed to compete worldwide to provide continuous volumes and consistent quality of goods at competitive prices.” BF