CAPI calls for formal link between health and agriculture policies

OTTAWA, November 17, 2009 — Federal, provincial and territorial governments should formally link the development of future health policy and agriculture policy in Canada, says the president of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI).

David McInnes made his comments in a presentation at a McGill World Platform Think Tank and Convergence Workshop in Montreal. "Canada faces an excellent window of opportunity to link health and agriculture policy given that the Growing Forward agriculture framework ends in 2013 and the Canada Health Accord expires in 2014," noted Mr. McInnes.

"In the policy world, this creates the right conditions to advance this concept but work needs to start now to chart out how a systematic connection between these policy domains will benefit consumers, the country's future population health outcomes, and how it will deliver economic benefits to the agricultural sector," he added.

CAPI believes that prevention is the common link which should better connect agricultural and health sector planning. The diverse and healthy ingredients and foods produced in this country are, and should be, the basis for improving the diet of Canadians; a healthy diet is a major factor of disease prevention. By promoting the consumption and exports of healthier, Canadian ingredients and foods, Canada's agricultural sector also benefits economically. CAPI has documented this issue, including its trends and related initiatives here and abroad, in two reports on the subject with the most recent, entitled Building Convergence; Toward an Integrated Health and Agri-Food Strategy for Canada, published in August 2009.

CAPI will be holding a Summit in February 2010 to develop a roadmap to elaborate upon the steps and policies needed to implement a health and agri-food strategy for Canada.

The Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) is an independent, unbiased policy forum that is dedicated to the success of Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector. CAPI is a catalyst. It identifies emerging issues, promotes dialogue and advances alternative solutions to issues with stakeholders across the diverse agriculture and agri-food value chain, and among academia, research institutes, governments and other sectors in Canada. Based in Ottawa, CAPI was established as a not-for-profit corporation in 2004 by the federal government and is guided by a diverse Board of Directors and an Advisory Committee.

© Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute