CFA's Director of Business Risk Management, Scott Ross, discussed with MPs a range of ideas and recommendations that would position the agricultural sector as a strategic industry through which Canada could make progress on many government priorities, such as trade, economic growth and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
"With Canada's small domestic population, vast natural resources, and highly competitive producers, the agriculture industry is uniquely positioned to seize on opportunities arising from a growing global middle class, a world population expected to surpass nine billion by 2050, and a domestic consumer base seeking increasingly diverse Canadian products," said Ross. "Farmers play a key role in laying the groundwork for a sustainable future for Canada, one that benefits both rural and urban communities." CFA recommended that the 2017 federal budget include provisions that:
- Create a tax policy environment that is conducive to sustainable growth for family farms and that creates opportunities for new entrants to farming
- Support the development and adoption of clean technology and invest in agricultural innovation
- Establish a broad-based market access and infrastructure strategy to capitalize on emerging market opportunities in Canadian agriculture
- Modernize Canada's internal trade system
These recommendations would help the agricultural sector continue to grow and position Canada as a world leader in innovative and sustainable agricultural practices. When combined with other initiatives and programs, these investments would help Canada meet the ever-growing demand for food both within and outside of our borders.
In addition, CFA's Rural Policy Committee submitted another set of recommendations focused on strengthening agriculture's role as a key contributor to rural Canada, such as the need to build the sector's human resources capacity and address shortages in our agriculture and agri-food workforce.
Source: Meatbusiness