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2016 Senate Report Warned of Current Challenges

2016 Senate Report Warned of Current Challenges
Mar 20, 2025
By Denise Faguy
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

Senate urged the government to reduce dependence on the U.S. market

In 2016, during the first Trump term as US President, the Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce, and the Economy advised dismantling internal trade barriers to enhance economic growth.

It also urged the government to reduce dependence on the U.S. market and implement tax reforms to prevent businesses from relocating.

The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade emphasized strengthening ties with Mexico and recognized the need for free-trade agreements amid rising protectionism.

Years before the “Buy Canadian” movement gained momentum, the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry identified increasing demand for domestically produced goods. It also pointed out the untapped opportunities in the value-added food sector, which could contribute significantly to Canada’s economy.

To address export challenges, the committee conducted an extensive study, consulting over 500 industry experts, farmers, and processors. Their findings aimed to support agricultural businesses in expanding their global reach.

With the right policies, Canada’s agricultural sector and trade strategies could enhance economic stability and growth. More insights can be found through reports Made in Canada: Growing in Canada's Value Added Food Sector and Canadian farmers need greater access to foreign markets to thrive.

 


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Democratizing Gene Editing - Pairwise’s Vision for the Future of Agriculture

Video: Democratizing Gene Editing - Pairwise’s Vision for the Future of Agriculture

Pairwise has built its business around an idea that runs counter to how many companies approach innovation: make transformative technology easier to access.

In this Seed World interview, CEO Tom Adams discusses why broader access to gene editing could speed crop improvement, expand innovation opportunities and help agriculture address emerging challenges. He explains why Pairwise believes no single company can solve all of agriculture's problems alone—and why making advanced breeding technologies available to more organizations could accelerate progress across the industry.

The conversation explores how consumer trust influences technology adoption, why innovations like pitless cherries and seedless blackberries matter beyond convenience, and how future crop improvements could help address labor shortages, automation, harvest efficiency and other production challenges. Adams also shares his perspective on what the industry may be underestimating about the next wave of gene editing innovation.

Watch the full interview to hear why Pairwise believes agriculture is approaching an important inflection point for gene editing, and why the pace of innovation over the next decade could surprise the industry.

Topics Covered:

o Democratizing agricultural innovation

o Consumer trust and technology adoption

o The business case for sharing innovation

o Expanding innovation beyond major crops

o Next-generation breeding technologies