A renewed and more focused Agriculture Canada research branch will be a leader in the revitalization of the Canadian farm economy, says agriculture minister Chuck Strahl.
He recently announced the first phase of a new science policy for the department, which Strahl says will focus the department’s effort on national priorities that include health and the environment.
“We have developed a new strategy that has a clear vision and which is based on a clear set of principles that will change the way agriculture science and research is done in this country and which will have a positive impact on the agriculture and agri-food industry and for Canadians generally,” Strahl said in a May 30 speech to the Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology in Montreal.
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In a later interview, he said the operational details of the new strategy, including plans for reinvestment, changing the budget, personnel hiring and changes to the network of research centres, will be developed during the summer.
“Stay tuned for the details.”
Strahl said a national consultation launched a year ago by former Liberal agriculture minister Andy Mitchell identified a lack of focus in the science branch, as well as a morale problem among staff.
“It will be clear from now on how our science strategy matches our national priorities,” he said.
“That is going to be a huge morale builder for the agriculture science sector to be able to say that what they’re doing is essential to the government’s national plans and priorities.”
National priorities for the agriculture research community include:
- Develop food products and plant varieties that contribute to Health Canada’s goal of improving the health of the Canadian population.
- Develop systems that improve food safety and security of the food system, including work on predicting and protecting against the spread of diseases and other threats to the food chain.
- Stress development of bioresources such as fuel and industrial products.
- Develop environmentally sustainable food production practices that reduce pollution.
Strahl said Agriculture Canada will organize more science collaboration between levels of government, universities, private researchers and product developers.
And all this, he told the House of Commons June 2, is part of the government’s strategy to move Canadian farmers beyond the production of low-value commodities.
“Whether it is development of new healthy food products, securing the safety of our food supply, securing access to foreign markets or developing biofuel, our new science strategy is part and parcel of our commitment to increase opportunities and increase income for Canadian farmers,” he said.
Farmers and scientists will be looking for answers to key questions:
- Will the budget for research be increased, signaling a reduction in funding dependence on the matching investment initiative created by the Liberals to try to entice more science investment from the private sector to compensate for government cuts in the 1990s?
- Will the government invest in often-crumbling research centres or will some be closed?
- Will the government have a strategy to recruit a new generation of scientists?
