Evaluation results online

Future success of agriculture industry

The results of an evaluation and consultation process to help develop programs and policies for the future success of P.E.I.’s agriculture industry are now available online.

The report, “What We’ve Heard: The Next Policy Framework for Agriculture (20182023),” can be viewed at www.princeedwardisland.ca/gf2.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries says the suggestions will allow the province to hit the ground running when the next policy framework comes into effect.

The current agriculture policy framework, Growing Forward 2, expires March 31, 2018. Canadian ministries of agriculture recently signed a new policy framework for agriculture, the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a $3-billion investment in the country’s agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector.

That policy will begin April 1, 2018.

Department clients, industry stakeholders, and the public were invited to provide their input in several priority areas throughout the evaluation and

consultation process.

Engagement activities included client surveys, industry consultation sessions, meetings with industry stakeholders, and an online survey for public feedback.

“We appreciated that government provided an opportunity to provide direct input into the process,” said P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture president David Mol.

“This agreement will help set the course for growth for Island farmers for the next five years and it was important that the perspectives of primary producers were heard.”