Timing, they say, is everything in life.
Assuming that cliché is true, Pierre Petelle may have very good timing.
CropLife Canada announced in May that Petelle is its new president and chief executive officer.
He is replacing Ted Menzies, a former Conservative MP and cabinet minister who stepped away from the role in January because of health issues.
Petelle, who was the organization’s vice-president of chemistry, said it’s an opportune time to lead the organization because there is a buzz around agriculture and food in Ottawa.
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“There seems to be a heightened awareness and heightened interest in what we (CropLife) have to say,” Petelle said.
The mood around agriculture and food is more fervent, thanks to a report that came out in February.
In The Path to Prosperity , which was released by the federal finance department’s Advisory Council on Economic Growth, chair Dominic Barton singled out the agri-food sector as a key driver of economic growth.
“Canada has the potential for substantial growth and export improvement and the opportunity to become the trusted global leader in safe, nutritious, and sustainable food for the 21st century,” the report said.
Barton also proposed growth targets for agriculture and agri-food:
- Canada’s share of global agriculture exports could reach eight percent, up from current levels of 5.7 percent.
- The country’s share of global agri-food exports is now 2.8 percent, but could double to 5.6 percent.
The opportunity is substantial, but Barton’s report echoes a well-known theme in Canada’s agriculture industry.
“We were on (a) panel with Dominic Barton a couple a weeks ago,” said Petelle, who has been with CropLife since 2008.
“He said, ‘I just discovered what you guys have known about for a long time, that agriculture is a highly innovative sector that has a lot to (offer).’ ”
A positive narrative around agriculture and food should make Petelle’s job easier because CropLife campaigns for a political and regulatory climate that stimulates investment in agriculture innovation.
Petelle, who worked for Health Canada and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency before joining CropLife, said regulations are critical for investment and growth.
If the PMRA and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency were better integrated into the broader system, it could fuel economic and export growth, Petelle said.
“They (regulators) need to see they are a critical player in the broader picture,” he said.
