Year In Review: A look back at this year in agriculture, with Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Jan 05, 2024

As we bid farewell to 2023 and embrace the challenges and opportunities of the coming year, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson, took a moment to look back on the past year and share insights into the province’s agricultural achievements and future goals.

Minister Thompson emphasized the crucial role of farmers in shaping the provincial strategy, looking to invest in Ontario’s food security in the coming years and beyond.

This partnership with the federal government will see $1.77 billion put into Ontario’s AgriFood industry – which contributes $47 billion to Ontario’s GDP.

A significant portion of this investment, $9 million, went towards enhancing soil health. Minister Thompson underscored the importance of understanding and improving soil health for sustainable agriculture.

The minister also discussed the AgriFood Technology Fund, a $25 million initiative aimed at supporting farmers and processors in adopting new technologies for increased efficiency and biosecurity. This fund reflects the commitment to innovation, a key aspect of the overarching Grow Ontario strategy.

Sustainability played a pivotal role in their efforts, with a focus on the Resilient Agricultural Landscape program—a $50 million investment.

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Video: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, 95% of the genetics they’ll be growing come from Canadian plant breeders.

That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

For farmers like Darcy, who have made generational investments based on the assumption that better genetics will keep coming, the stakes are direct and personal.

We’re on the brink of decisions that will shape our agricultural future for not only our generation, but also the ones to come.

What direction will we choose?

On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?