Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced Friday that Bill C-18, also known as the Agricultural Growth Act, has received Royal Assent.
The act is expected to modernize Canadian agriculture and increase trade opportunities for farmers by providing greater access to new crop varieties and the latest technology.
"Canadian agriculture is an important driver of economic growth across Canada," said Ritz. "The passage of the Agricultural Growth Act is a momentous step forward for our agricultural industry. This Bill will give producers a competitive advantage in the global marketplace, lead to increased investment in research and innovation, and translate into more jobs throughout the sector."
This new legislation strengthens agricultural intellectual property rights through the ratification of the act of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, also known as UPOV'91.
The legislation also improves access to the latest scientific research, reduces red tape and regulatory burden on producers, and expands global market opportunities.