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OTTAWA, February 19, 2007 — The Canadian
Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) is releasing a report that calls
for the repositioning of Canadian agri-food policies and the sectors
such policies support.
The report — Moving Forward on Vision and
Action for Canadian Agriculture — provides a perspective on the
operating environment affecting the agricultural, agri-food and
agri-business sectors, outlines a strategic direction for the
future, and identifies areas of activity that must be pursued if
that direction is to be realized. The report is premised on a vision of enhancing the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector's contribution to the quality of life for Canadians in many areas, including health, energy and
the environment.
The report is being released to coincide with
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s ‘Next Generation of Agriculture
and Agri-Food Policy’ consultations which are currently underway. The report
is designed to stimulate dialogue and action with respect to the
next generation of Canadian agricultural policy-making.
"The Canadian agriculture and agri-food
sectors must operate in the present but anticipate the future," said
CAPI Chair Gaëtan Lussier. "Agricultural policy and programming
needs to be forward looking, and needs a framework that fosters the
development of policies and programs that both provide solutions for
Canadian agriculture and agri-business and also contribute to a
better quality of life for all Canadians."
Six pillars support the vision outlined in the report. They are:
- The health and well-being of Canadians through foods that help
prevent diseases and lower health care costs associated with
chronic diseases;
- The health and well-being of Canadians through a safe and
secure food supply that guards against infectious diseases and
lowers health care costs associated with acute diseases;
- Sustainable production practices to protect and secure the
environment and natural resources;
- Sustainable bio-economy production of functional foods, feeds
fibres and other products;
- Differentiation in the marketplace based on natural and
climatic advantages; and,
- Investment opportunities in the agri-food sector.
The report also identifies a number of areas of activity that must be pursued if the direction and vision
articulated are to be realized. They include, but are not limited to: fostering innovation and commercialization of new technologies, overcoming regulatory obstacles, building on natural advantages and
sector strengths, delivering on local food demands and addressing
farm sector specific issues.
"An overarching thrust of the next
generation of Canadian agri-food policy must be to make Canada an
attractive place in which to practice agriculture and food
production,” said Mr. Lussier. "This must be a core part of
policy development efforts, and involves both building on our
natural competitive strengths and eliminating or at least
minimizing our weaknesses."
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