The Partnership supports Alberta’s agricultural sector

The federal and provincial governments are partnering to support innovation, growth and sustainability in Alberta’s agricultural sector.

Alberta’s farmers, ranchers and producers are a key driver of the economy and work hard to ensure they can respond to increasing demand for their high-quality, safe products. The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year federalprovincial-territorial agreement that focuses on increasing trade, expanding markets and supporting innovative and sustainable growth in the sector while creating jobs and strengthening the middle class.

Today, Minister MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Oneil Carlier, Alberta Minister of Forestry and Agriculture, announced that over the next five years the Canadian government and the Alberta government plan to invest $406 million to support strategic programs and activities under the Partnership.

The Partnership includes federal, provincial and territorial cost-shared strategic initiatives to ensure programs are tailored to meet regional needs.

“The Canadian Agricultural Partnership will help Alberta’s farmers, ranchers and processors continue to meet the growing domestic and international demand for their highquality, safe products. Collaboration has been at the heart of developing the Partnership and we will continue to work together to help the sector innovate, grow and prosper.”

Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

“This agreement marks our commitment to the future of Alberta’s diverse agricultural sector. Agriculture is the cornerstone of our province’s economy and our largest sustainable industry. The investments made through this program will expand the capacity and efficiency of the sector, creating more jobs for Albertans and increasing our capacity to export our agri-food products to the world.” Oneil Carlier, Alberta Minister of Forestry and Agriculture

The strategic direction of this agreement has been the focus of numerous roundtable meetings with Alberta farmers, ranchers and representatives from the diverse agrifood and agri-processing sectors over the last few months.

“Canada Beef is supportive of the goals identified under the Agricultural Policy Framework to grow Canadian agricultural exports to $75 billion by 2025. The Canadian beef industry is working hard to take advantage of agreements such as CPTPP to create new opportunities for growth through trade in international markets. Canada Beef sees the Canadian Agricultural Partnership as an important collaboration between the federal and provincial governments and the beef industry that will benefit all Canadians.”

Francis Andres, Canada Beef

President

“We are pleased to support Alberta’s participation in the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Alberta relies on irrigation for its crops and agricultural productions – the new programs will promote progressive water management practices and will contribute to a more efficient use of one of our most precious resources.”

Margo Redelback, Executive Director, Alberta Irrigation Projects Association

Irrigation, farm water and stewardship programming is launching in early April. Additional programs supporting Alberta’s agricultural sector will be launched in the coming weeks. Specific details will be available online.

Quick facts

• The Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which succeeds Growing Forward 2, is a federal, provincial and territorial framework designed to strengthen the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector, ensuring continued innovation, growth and prosperity. • Programs and activities are focused on: o Growing trade and expanding markets. o Innovative and sustainable growth of the sector. o Supporting diversity and a dynamic, evolving sector.

• As well as cost-shared strategic initiatives, the Partnership includes a complete and effective suite of business risk-management programs to help farmers manage risks that threaten the viability of their farm.