The crop sector is a key contributor to Canada's economy, representing $25 billion in farm gate receipts, $21 billion in exports and supporting thousands of jobs across the country while expanding markets for the sector's safe, high-quality products.

"Our government has set a target of $75 billion in agri-food exports by 2025, and supporting the growth of the field crops sector through investments in cutting edge research is key to getting us there. We are proud to partner with industry to ensure research tackles the tough issues and delivers new tools to help growers compete and meet the growing demand for their products at home and abroad for years to come."

- Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

"Innovation in the Canadian agricultural sector has helped make our country a leader in producing safe, high quality products. I am pleased to be here today to highlight these investments that will enhance the sustainability of the field crops sector, while delivering economic benefits and create good job opportunities in Ontario and all of Canada.”

- Francis Drouin, Member of parliament for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell

"Demand for food continues to increase as the global population rises. The CFCRA welcomes the investment by the Canadian government in important areas of research for agriculture and the food industry. The funding for the soybean cluster, oat project, and corn project, will lead to more resilient, productive, and high quality soybean and oat varieties as well as new corn inbreds for Canadian farmers, and will improve best practices for sustainable crop production that will keep our grain-based foods and feed healthy, of high quality, and increase yields to meet global demand."

- Salah Zoghlami, President, Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance

• In 2016, the farm gate value of Canadian soybean, oats and corn was $5.39 billion, with over $900 million of sales in Ontario.

• The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the agriculture and agri-food sector. 

• The Partnership includes programs and activities to enhance the competitiveness of the sector through research, science and innovation. Through the AgriScience Program, a five-year, $338 million initiative, the government is supporting leading edge discovery and applied science, and innovation driven by industry research priorities.

• The Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance (CFCRA) is a not-for-profit entity founded in 2010 with an interest in advancing the genetic capacity of field crops in Canada, particularly barley, corn, oats, soybeans and wheat. The CFCRA is a national collaboration comprised of provincial producer organizations and industry partners, including: Atlantic Grains Council; Producteurs de grains du Quebec; Grain Farmers of Ontario; Manitoba Corn Growers Association; Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers; Saskatchewan Pulse Growers; Prairie Oat Growers Association; SeCan; and FP Genetics.

Associated links

• Canadian Agricultural Partnership
• Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance

Katie Hawkins
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
613-773-1059
katie.hawkins@agr.gc.ca

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