|
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader now! (opens new window)
Print ready copy in PDF format Science and Innovation
The Government of Canada and the provincial and territorial governments are working with the agriculture and agri-food industry and interested Canadians to develop an architecture for agricultural policy for the 21st century. The objective is for Canada to be the world leader in food safety, innovation and environmentally-responsible production. To realize this vision, governments have agreed in principle on an action plan for an agricultural policy framework composed of five elements: food safety and food quality, environment, science and innovation, renewal, and business risk management. The framework, which is based on the setting of common goals for each element, entails important benefits for the sector and ultimately the general public. Accordingly, governments have launched a national dialogue about the policy direction with stakeholders and interested Canadians to develop the proposed policy approach. This consultation document is one of a series of publications dedicated to that end. Agriculture is applied science and innovation in action ...The agriculture and agri-food sector has always been profoundly affected by science and technology. The farm practices of today could hardly be imagined 50 years ago. The agricultural production and processing chain from farm inputs to consumption is also evolving. In recent years, innovations and advances in science and technology have made the pace of change quicker than ever. "We're on the verge of yet another revolution. Biology is transforming to a
science based upon information... We're seeing the convergence of biotechnology
with information technology. We're seeing the convergence of biotechnologies
with materials technologies, and we're going to see the impact of biotechnology
across all sectors of the economy. The new economy only comes from intensive
research and development." ...and it's changing rapidlyRapid advances in such fields as biology and chemistry, combined with the ever-increasing power of new information and communications technologies, have fueled significant growth in the bioeconomy. At the same time, once distinct fields of enquiry such as plant and animal sciences, or environmental and health sciences and once distinct businesses such as agriculture, chemicals, health care and pharmaceuticals are converging. This convergence has accelerated the pace of research activity, as demonstrated by increases in Canadian patenting activity shown in the graph below. The pace of innovation is increasing
|
Science collaboration at its best Soy 20/20Soy 20/20 is a proposed collaboration of all levels of industry, government in Canada and the University of Guelph, whose goal is to establish the Canadian soybean industry as the world leader in value-added markets. It plans to achieve this through:
|
"Ministers also recognize that economic benefits will accrue to
nations that first develop and bring to market new products and processes."
Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers of Agriculture Agreement in Principle
on an Action Plan for an Agricultural Policy Framework, June 2001
Consumer and industry confidence is key to moving new products and technologies through the innovation chain. Strengthened stewardship would reinforce the confidence that consumers and stakeholders have in the safety, food quality and benefits of innovative products and practices.
Finally, the promise that science and innovation hold for Canadian agriculture is achievable only if the sector-producers, processors and distributors-know about and adopt innovative technologies and practices. It is crucial, therefore, to help the sector take advantage of the latest production and management techniques, including those that have food safety, food quality and environmental benefits.
Science and innovation are the cornerstone of all efforts to make the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector the world leader and to support its future success and prosperity. With this in mind, Ministers of Agriculture have committed to work together and with industry towards a set of common goals to increase the economic benefits to producers and processors while positively contributing to the environment, health of consumers and Canada's economy. Among the common goals being considered are:
The Government of Canada and provincial and territorial governments working with industry are considering a range of options on how best to meet these goals. One option is to build and strengthen communication links throughout the value chain. Another is for Canada to promote the establishment of science-based domestic and international standards. This would help capture new and premium markets around the world and maintain existing ones. Yet another option is to develop a national strategic approach to attract foreign investment in Canada's agricultural life sciences.
Putting the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector first requires a national vision and a national partnership. Governments and industry moving forward collectively to integrate all elements of the proposed APF would enable us to brand Canada as the world leader in:
Branding Canada as the world leader in these areas will contribute to the continued growth and increased prosperity of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector by capturing new markets and customers.
This fact sheet is part of the APF consultations kit. The full contents of the kit can be viewed online.
Date Modified: 2005-04-20 | Important Notices | |
[ Français | Contact Us | Help | Search | Canada Site ] [ AAFC Online | Links | Newsroom | What's New | Site Index ] [ Framework Agreements | Background | Partners | Feedback ] |