Ottawa, ON – CFA was pleased to see that the recently announced National Food Security Strategy shows a renewed focus and substantial investments to create a more resilient agri-food sector that will improve farm competitiveness and food affordability.
Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector is a cornerstone of the national economy, contributing nearly $150 billion annually to GDP and supporting over 2.3 million jobs. The sector also plays a critical role in ensuring Canadians have access to affordable, safe, and nutritious food while positioning Canada as a reliable global supplier of agriculture and agri-food products.
“We’re seeing some really positive developments in this strategy, but success will depend on how it is implemented. It must meaningfully involve farmers and the broader agricultural sector to achieve the best results,” said Keith Currie, President of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. “Producers are on the front lines of food security and must be active partners in delivering solutions that strengthen domestic production, improve affordability, and enhance supply chain resilience.”
CFA welcomes several key elements of the strategy that reflect CFA’s recommendations, including efforts to strengthen domestic food production, investments aimed at improving supply chain efficiency, and measures to enhance affordability for Canadians.
Commitments to accelerate regulatory approvals and reduce backlogs are also important steps toward ensuring farmers have timely access to the tools and innovations they need to remain competitive.
The Strategy’s focus on promoting competition, expanding domestic processing, advancing controlled environment agriculture, and creating new market opportunities for producers, such as through enhanced domestic food distribution infrastructure, signals a strong recognition of the importance of building a more resilient and self-reliant food system.
CFA has consistently emphasized that a successful food security strategy must prioritize strengthening Canada’s productive capacity, supporting farmers’ competitiveness, and removing barriers to investment, growth, and innovation across the value chain.
At the same time, CFA believes there are important areas where additional clarity and action will be needed to fully realize the strategy’s potential. Continued attention to rising input costs and labour shortages will be essential to enabling farmers and agri-food businesses to deliver on the strategy’s objectives. Ongoing collaboration with industry will also be critical as new initiatives are developed and implemented.
CFA continues to stress that food security cannot be addressed through a single department or program. It requires a coordinated, whole-of-government approach that aligns policies across transportation, trade, environment, innovation, labour, and finance to support a resilient and competitive agri-food sector.
CFA looks forward to working collaboratively with the Government of Canada to ensure the National Food Security Strategy delivers meaningful outcomes for farmers, consumers, and the broader economy.