FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL-TERRITORIAL
FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON AGRICULTURAL AND AGRI-FOOD POLICY FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

"bio-based economy" means an economy derived from applying the advances in science and innovation to the biology of plants, animals and micro-organisms to develop new bio- products, and will be based on the production, processing and marketing of bio-products;

"bio-mass" means all living organisms and their constituent parts;

"bio-process" means any process that uses living organisms or their constituent parts;

"bio-products" means products from living organisms and their constituent parts that may replace or augment products derived from non-renewable resources, and includes, but is not limited to, products such as ethanol, chemicals, lubricants, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, clothing, plastics and building materials;

"innovation" means the process of creating, adopting or applying new methods, ideas or devices;

"priority areas" means the five chapter components of the Framework Agreement, namely, business risk management, food safety and food quality, environment, renewal and science and innovation; and

"value chain" means the value creation process that transforms materials - within the enterprise as well as in the total supply chain - and information into products that satisfy a customer's needs.

Realigning Public Science Resources

33.1.1 realign and increase investments to support science and innovation in the priority areas, as well as in biomass, bio-product and bio-process research;

33.1.2 increase the level of investment in innovation in agricultural and bio-products from non-agricultural sources within Canada and elsewhere;

Co-ordinating Along the Whole Value Chain

33.1.3 expand and strengthen linkages between the agriculture and agri-food sector and the science and innovation community both within Canada and internationally;

33.1.4 improve technology transfer, coordination, communication and collaboration across market, policy and scientific disciplines, research organizations and throughout the value chain;

Creating an Innovation Climate

33.1.5 accelerate the development and adoption of innovations in the agriculture and agri-food sector while maintaining an effective science-based and transparent agriculture and agri-food regulatory system;

33.1.6 ensure that the human resources and infrastructure needed for science and innovation in the agriculture and agri-food sector are available in Canada;

33.1.7 foster a supportive climate for investment, technology transfer and commercialization in Canada; and

33.1.8 better utilize intellectual property from publicly supported research to enhance the growth of the agriculture and agri-food sector.

Realigning Public Science Resources

34.1.1 levels of investment by the Parties, academic institutions and industry in science and innovation in the priority areas and in bio-products;

34.1.2 levels of investment by non-agricultural sources in science and innovation in the priority areas;

Co-ordinating Along the Whole Value Chain

34.1.3 the number of collaborative arrangements based on science and innovation across the value chain;

Creating an Innovation Climate

34.1.4 the number of producers that become engaged in value chain activities beyond production of the raw commodity;

34.1.5 the market share of bio-products produced in Canada;

34.1.6 the impact on rural economic development of investments or economic activity in bio-products and the priority areas;

34.1.7 the number of publications, licensing agreements and patents awarded in the agriculture and agri-food sector;

34.1.8 the number of people employed in the bio-based economy;

34.1.9 the number of persons enrolled in post secondary institutions in subjects related to the bio-based economy;

34.1.10 employers' access to skilled labour in the bio-based economy; and

34.1.11 the number of new research and innovative projects that are commercialized.

35.6.1 a science/policy/market/innovation summit;

35.6.2 pilot projects with industry and academic and research institutions;

35.6.3 web sites;

35.6.4 research co-ordination; and

35.6.5 life cycle cost analysis on bio-products.

35.7.1 improve collaboration among and within governments, academic institutions and industry; and

35.7.2 develop partnerings with non-traditional sectors such as environment and energy.

35.8.1 promoting business climate policies that will encourage access to capital for research, development and innovation;

35.8.2 promoting the establishment of practices in a manner that will facilitate success by Canadian enterprises in new and premium markets;

35.8.3 supporting mechanisms and infrastructure, including business-mentoring techniques, centres for innovation, incubators and physical infrastructure; and

35.8.4 encouraging the establishment and growth of research facilities that attract world class scientists and advance innovation in the agriculture and the agri-food sector.