by SUSAN MANN
A new committee established to give Ontario Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal advice and recommendations on how the agricultural industry can double its annual growth rate and create 120,000 new jobs by 2020 is slated to release a report later this year.
Leal says in an email from his press adviser the committee will deliver a report on its progress and recommendations at the 2015 Premier’s Summit on Agri-Food. The committee has already met for the first time last week and will meet again this spring.
“I look forward to receiving advice from this committee as we work to support and grow the agri-food sector,” he says.
The agriculture ministry named deputy minister Deb Stark and Ontario Pork chair Amy Cronin as co-chairs of the Agri-Food Growth Steering Committee.
The challenge to double the agricultural industry’s growth rate and create 120,000 new jobs by 2020 was issued by Premier Kathleen Wynne in 2013.
In its Feb. 3 press release, the agriculture ministry says the committee will provide advice on growth opportunities and on the development of a growth measurement system.
Other members of the committee are:
- Ted Bilyea, president of a consulting firm and chair of the board of directors for the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute.
- Jim Brandle, CEO of Vineland Research and Innovation.
- Christian von Twickel, executive vice president of Dr. Oetker Canada Inc.
- Norm Beal, president and CEO of Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery and executive director of Food and Beverage Ontario.
- Scott Graham, chair of Egg Farmers of Ontario and an egg and cash crop farmer.
- Jamison Steeve, executive director of the Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity. BF
Comments
Its interesting that not one person from the organic community is on the committee, regardless if you agree with organic farming or not, its clear that organic farmers and food processors are clearly more profitable, them their peers in the conventional farming when comparing apples to apples. Every one wants to talk the farmer with a weedy field who's organic, but there are many organic farmers who are organic by management and not by neglect.
This year organic soybeans are selling for $30.00bu and organic spelt at $800mt
So lets say the organic farmer only gets half the crop his conventional neighbor gets he or she is still 30% more profitable with half a crop, less trucking, less storage, less handling.
The organic industry has grown every year since the 70's with zero government support programs what other sector of agriculture has done that on it's own to feet ? and no supply management hasn't done it, is only successful because government gives it a monopoly.
Fun the sector that buys the least inputs and most saves it's own seed is thriving the most.
I made a huge mistake 4 years to drop my organic farm land certification in turn to crop more acres conventionally, biggest farming mistake I have ever made, This fall I have given up almost 800 acre of rented land and have decided to only crop 500 acres which I will transition to organic and I have seeded a lot of land into hay and pasture.
I would encourage other farmers to look at the huge opportunities that exist to produce and supply a growing market place that is keen for certified organic food.
Sean McGivern
Gov does not have their head screwd on the right way when it comes to agriculture . With agriculture you increase jobs by increasing production . You don't create the jobs and restrictions first . If for instance you have a hog processing plant and you need to process more hogs you don't first look at building another plant , you look at adding more shifts to make the plant run more efficiently . Then when you are at full capacity you will look at building another plant or doing an expansion to the existing . This creates jobs .
If Gov would only look at their failed attempt of the GEA to create jobs they might have a clue . They bought jobs to increase electricity which inturn lead to higher electricity rates which in turn is forcing companies to leave the province along with selling electricity at a loss to competing states and provinces that are taking jobs away from the province , which is costing tax payers and electricity users money that should be spent on other things . Talk about net negative !
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