MacAulay announces six programs receiving $1 billion in funding under Canadian Ag Partnership

Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay announced six programs that will receive a total of $1 billion in federal funding under the new Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) at Agribition in Regina on Friday.

The six programs to be offered under the new agricultural policy framework slated to begin on April 1, 2018 are named: AgriMarketing, AgriCompetitiveness, AgriScience, AgriInnovate, AgriDiversity and AgriAssurance.

“This is an exciting new chapter for agriculture in Canada,” said MacAulay, who was accompanied by Saskatchewan Ag Minister Lyle Stewart and Manitoba Ag Minister Ralph Eichler at the country’s largest livestock show.

Great to be at the famous Canadian Western @Agribition, the largest livestock show in Canada! #Regina #CWA17 #SKAg pic.twitter.com/so24qHjnPd

— Lawrence MacAulay (@L_MacAulay) November 24, 2017

CAP is a five-year $3 billion federal-provincial-territorial funding agreement that will replace the current framework, known as Growing Forward 2, next year. The other $2 billion in funding, for initiatives such as business risk management programs, is cost-shared between the federal, provincial and territorial governments.

Here’s how Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada describes each of the new programs:

• AgriMarketing – Aims to increase and diversify exports to international markets and seize domestic market opportunities through industry-led promotional activities that differentiate Canadian products and producers, and leverage Canada’s reputation for high quality and safe food. The program is for national industry associations and small and medium-sized enterprises.
• AgriCompetitiveness – Supports the markets and trade priority by assisting industry-led efforts to help the agriculture and agri-food sector leverage, coordinate and build on existing capacity, enhance safety, adapt to changing commercial and regulatory environments, share best practices, and provide mentorship opportunities.
• AgriScience – Designed to accelerate the pace of innovation by supporting pre-commercialization activities and investing in cutting-edge research to benefit the agricultural and agri-food sector. Within the Program there are two components: Clusters and Projects. Applications for the Clusters component are now being accepted. Industry groups interested in submitting an application are encouraged to call 613-759-1977 or email [email protected].
• AgriInnovate – Will accelerate the commercialization and/or adoption of innovative agri-based products, technologies, processes or services. The program will support agribusinesses to get their innovations into the market, or to adopt leading edge technologies and processes.
• AgriDiversity – Will strengthen the sector and build its capacity by helping diverse groups to take a greater leadership role, building the entrepreneurial capacity and business skills of under-represented groups, facilitating the sharing of industry experience, best practices and knowledge, help under-represented groups to manage transformation, and strengthen the sector by incorporating the views of a more diverse set of industry players.
• AgriAssurance – Will enable industry to make meaningful and verifiable claims about the health and safety of Canadian agricultural products. It will also build industry capacity to increase public confidence in the food system, respond to market requirements and meet consumer demand. The program is for national industry associations and small and medium-sized enterprises.

AAFC says details and application forms will be available in early 2018.

The Canadian Agricultural Partnership will also include changes to the AgriInvest and AgriStability business risk management programs, as announced in July.

Related: Ag ministers reach deal on new framework dubbed the “Canadian Agricultural Partnership”