The Agricultural Institute of Canada has undergone a facelift, taken on an expanded mandate to advocate for food industry research and development and has appointed a high-powered advisory committee.
Chief executive officer Myles Frosst said the revamped AIC aims to become the unified industry voice in advocating for more emphasis on support for science in the food sector.
“If I could think of one lobby exercise that we will be involved with, it will be to promote more emphasis on research and commercialization of the results through the value chain,” he said.
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The new AIC has a 10-person advisory committee that includes former federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief, former Maple Leaf Foods executive Ted Bilyea, Maple Leaf vice-president Rory McAlpine and former senior Agriculture Canada official Doug Hedley, as well as prominent research scientists and George Morris Centre researcher Al Mussell.
Former key agricultural players who defined agriculture policy in recent years dominate the AIC advisory committee. A call for more federal research investment has been a theme during recent months of farm lobby appearances on Parliament Hill, no matter their ideological persuasion.
Frosst said the new AIC will represent all levels of the food industry.
“We want to be an advocate for the role of science in the industry.”
Since the creation of its predecessor organization in 1920, the AIC has largely been a national organization of agrologists publishing a scientific magazine and promoting international development.
Those functions will continue but the mandate will expand.
Private investors sought
Frosst said the makeover will require contributions from government and corporate supporters. In addition to the traditional AIC program and publication funding, there will be a plan to attract more private sector funding.
The new emphasis on advocacy for science will require up to $500,000 in funding, and the AIC board has decided that finding money from the private sector is the best option.
“Only then will we look to government for support.”
Meanwhile, the AIC will look for investment from private and government agencies to fund projects.
Frosst said the AIC will educate urban media about the environmental, nutritional and economic benefits of a strong agricultural sector.
“Lack of understanding of the substantial societal benefits that can be derived from agri-resources, combined with sometimes ineffectual government financial and policy support for innovative science in the agro-economy, is preventing the sector from contributing to its full potential,” an AIC statement said about its new role.
