Future bright for ag industry

Canada can become bigger world player: report

Already a world leader in food production, Canada stands to become an even stronger player in the agriculture and agri-food industries in the coming years.

Two reports issued by Farm Credit Canada show good news and potential better news for Canadian producers.

“Having these clear objectives we would really like to achieve challenges the industry to innovate, invest and increase our presence in these markets,” said Craig Klemmer, FCC Principal Agricultural Economist. “I think we have a great base here to support it, and I think that’s really optimistic.

“We’re optimistic short term and long term.”

Canadian Ag employs some 2.1 million people and accounts for 6.7 per cent of the country’s gross national product.

In 2016 Canada’s export values were topped by only the U.S., China, the Netherlands and Brazil. Canadian operations exported $24.6 billion worth of ag commodities, accounting for 6.3 per cent of the world’s total food exports — valued at $461.8 billion U.S.

Total global food exports topped $602.5 billion in 2016.

Pulses, soybeans and fresh fish were among the fastestgrowing exports between 2007 and 2016.

On the manufacturing side, Canada exported $19.1 billion, accounting for 3.2 per cent of the world’s total food exports.

For Klemmer, one of the biggest advantages for Canadian producers is their diversity and the ability to grow many different crops in Canada.

“The diversity of our products is really the strength of Canadian agriculture,” he said. “The fact our producers are continuing to find new ways of value to the product, and changing what the consumer wants locally, domestically, or internationally, really plays into what it means to be Canadian and to have a strong Canadian agriculture and agrifood brand.”

Canada was among the top three exporters in 11 commodities, including canola seed, wheat, rye, oats, buckwheat, flax, plants for perfumery, crustaceans, pulses, fresh fish, and bovine animals such as cattle and bison.

The other big advantage is the willingness of the Canadian ag sector to embrace technology and to always be seeking out efficiencies or improvements.

“For Canadian agriculture and the agri-food processing sector, the status quo really isn’t going to be good enough if we want to set these lofty goals,” said Klemmer.