Farm leaders and government officials discussed shared solutions to boost productivity, support innovation, and build a more resilient agriculture sector.
The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) wrapped up its 2026 Summer Meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia, bringing together agricultural leaders, industry representatives, parliamentarians, and federal, provincial, and territorial agriculture ministers to discuss the future of Canada's farming sector.
The gathering focused on establishing shared priorities for the next Agricultural Policy Framework through the CFA Policy Summit and the annual Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ministers Roundtable.
The 2026 CFA Policy Summit, centred on the theme Building Canada’s Agricultural Growth Engine: Policy Priorities for the Next Policy Framework, provided a platform for discussions on strengthening the competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience of Canada's agriculture and agri-food industries.
“The conversations held during this year’s Policy Summit and FPT Roundtable demonstrated the strong commitment across the sector and government to building a more productive, resilient, and sustainable future for Canadian agriculture,” said Keith Currie, CFA President.
“As governments begin shaping the next policy framework, farmers are ready to work collaboratively on solutions that strengthen competitiveness, support innovation, and create opportunities for growth across rural Canada.”
Sessions explored ways to increase productivity, encourage innovation, expand value-added agriculture, and support long-term economic growth.
Speakers and panelists highlighted the importance of targeted investments, modern regulatory systems, effective business risk management programs, and policies that encourage on-farm innovation. They also emphasized that future agricultural policies should deliver measurable benefits for producers while strengthening Canada's food security.
The discussions continued during the FPT Ministers Roundtable, where government officials and farm leaders examined shared priorities for the next policy framework.
CFA says conversations focused on addressing economic uncertainty, adapting to changing market conditions, improving productivity, and supporting environmental sustainability through collaborative policy development.
The Federal Governments reports the gathering identified four core priorities aimed at strengthening the competitiveness and long-term success of Canadian agriculture:
- Boosting economic growth and competitiveness by expanding domestic capacity, increasing productivity, and improving farm and agribusiness profitability.
- Expanding market opportunities and trade diversification by strengthening existing export relationships while pursuing new markets in an increasingly complex global trading environment.
- Supporting science, research, and innovation through targeted investments and collaborative efforts that help accelerate the development and adoption of new technologies and practices.
- Building a more resilient agriculture sector by enhancing the ability of producers, processors, and supply chain partners to anticipate, withstand, and adapt to economic, environmental, and market-related risks.
Hosted in partnership with the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture (NSFA), the event also celebrated the province’s agricultural diversity. Participants toured local farms to learn about innovative production practices before attending a farm-to-table dinner that showcased Nova Scotia’s farmers and locally produced food.
The Summer Meeting reinforced the value of a united national voice for Canadian producers. Moving forward, the CFA will continue working alongside its members and government partners to advance the priorities identified during the event and help ensure a strong, competitive, and sustainable future for Canadian agriculture.
Photo Credit: CFA
Last updated: July 4:10 PM