The ministry is committed to investing in science and strengthening collaboration
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) responded to a questions Farms.com asked related to the planned job cuts and losses of research facilities.
Farms.com wanted to know what AAFC and Minister MacDonald’s message is to Canadian farmers concerned with the cuts, and how the government plans to mitigate the impacts of the seven research sites scheduled for closure.
Below is the verbatim response from an AAFC spokesperson.
“Like other federal departments, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) was asked to identify savings to reduce costs over three years. This review of spending reflects a focus on returning to core responsibilities and the need to balance fiscal discipline, quality service delivery for Canadians, and economic growth. AAFC’s decisions were guided by a careful review of the Department’s science activities, sector priorities, capacity, and infrastructure.
We considered alignment with strategic priorities, capacity in other places, opportunities to strengthen support for the agriculture sector, and ways to deliver science more efficiently while maintaining a presence in every province. These choices position AAFC to sustain strong scientific capacity, improve efficiency, and concentrate resources where they will continue to generate scientific, economic, and environmental benefits.
A full closure of sites cannot occur immediately, as it involves a complex series of decisions that must be carefully worked through. We will take the time necessary to engage with research partners on the future of active projects, preserve findings and continue to build on these collaborations through our other centres.
AAFC will continue to be the largest agricultural research organization in Canada, with 17 research centres across the country. Every province will continue to have at least one research centre as well as research farmland.
AAFC will continue to advance high-impact science across key areas, including crop and horticultural production, animal production, food processing, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability to address emerging priorities and build a competitive and innovative sector.
AAFC will also continue to invest in science and strengthen collaborations with industry, governments, academia, and other key stakeholders in Canada and internationally. These efforts will continue to advance shared science priorities through activities at its centres and through regional and national initiatives to support the agriculture and agri-food sector.”