During the next five years, Canada’s food sector needs an injection of new research funding, says a national agriculture research council.
But the industry should look as much to private as to public sources to fill the gap.
And it should concentrate research dollars on projects that meet market needs, the Canadian Agricultural Research Council said in its five-year national agriculture research strategy.
“Relevant research and technology is essential to the survival of the agri-food sector. The global market is driving businesses to produce products at reduced costs,” said Morris Hoag, chair of the CARC.
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“In return, the industry is pushing agri-food researchers to develop the most efficient technology to answer consumers’ needs. The key to Canada’s agri-food research success is to develop clear priorities and to combine resources to meet those ends.”
At a news conference announcing the strategy, he was evasive on whether government should restore some research funding cut during recent years of deficit-trimming.
“There was a recognition that there needs to be more funding,” he said. “We need to be concerned about the base.”
But Hoag stressed the key is getting more private sector funding into the system. And it is in convincing colleges and universities to invest more in training the scientists needed to fill the research needs of the future.
Not looking to government
Does that mean that governments have no obligation to consider restoring some of the research funding they have cut as part of the solution?
“It does not mean that,” he said. “But we are not concentrating on government. Other partners must play their role.”
The agriculture research council is funded by governments and the private sector.
The new five-year plan concentrates on the need to bring together public and private needs to keep research funded and focused.
The industry must understand research is the core of its future. Adequate funding is necessary.
“The federal government, in concert with the research community and users, (should) develop mechanisms to ensure that Canadian agri-food research serves both the short and long-term needs of the agri-food sector,” said a strategy document.
It also urged the research effort to be “client-focused” while insisting that funding of long-term, non-market projects is important.
Without mentioning the need for farmers to survive economically, the council’s vision statement said research should help keep farmers globally competitive and environmentally friendly.
