Huge Potential for Canada’s Value-Added Food Sector

This morning in Charlottetown, the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry released its report entitled, Made in Canada: Growing Canada’s value-added food sector

The Honourable Robert Black, independent senator for Ontario and member of the committee believes that the report presents an opportunity for Canada to become more competitive in global markets.

Black has worked in the agricultural industry for over 30 years and upon his appointment to the Senate in February 2018, he was keen to get to work on agriculture issues. “Canada is known for quality agricultural products and processes,” said Black. “No one is disputing that. However, there absolutely is room for improvement in terms of adding value to those products in order to make Canadian exports the envy of countries around the world. That’s what we want to address in our report.”

“Canadian farmers, processors, and others in the agricultural industry are already doing fantastic work”

 

The committee heard from witnesses from all areas of the industry across Canada, informing the nine recommendations that the senators are now proposing to the government.

According to Black, the report’s fifth recommendation, which suggests ways for the government to “support innovation, growth, and competitiveness in the value-added sector,” is among the most important proposals of the report. Additionally, he believes that recommendations related to support of the supply management sector and the development of a global marketing program will be crucial to the continued success of Canadian agriculture.

Other recommendations include reviewing the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, addressing issues related to transportation of agricultural products, and reforming mandates of regulatory agencies.

“Canadian farmers, processors, and others in the agricultural industry are already doing fantastic work,” added Black, “but the industry needs the government behind it to implement policies that help us meet and surpass the high standards set by other countries.”

Read the report: Made in Canada: Growing Canada’s value-added food sector