Raison d'être
The Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food was created in 1868 — one year after Confederation — because of the importance of agriculture to the economic, social and cultural development of Canada. Today, the department helps create the conditions for the long-term profitability, sustainability and adaptability of the Canadian agricultural sector. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada supports the sector through initiatives that promote innovation and competitiveness, and that proactively manage risk. The department's goal is to position agriculture, agri-food and agri-based product industries to realize their full potential by seizing new opportunities in the growing domestic and global marketplace.
Our vision
Driving innovation and ingenuity to build a world leading agricultural and food economy for the benefit of all Canadians.
Our mission
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada provides leadership in the growth and development of a competitive, innovative and sustainable Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.
Mandate and role
The department supports the sector from the farmer to the consumer, from the farm to global markets, through all phases of producing, processing and marketing of farm, food and agri-based products. Agriculture is a shared jurisdiction in Canada, and the department works closely with provincial and territorial governments in the development and delivery of policies, programs and services.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's mandate is based upon the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Act. The Minister is also responsible for the administration of several other Acts such as the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act.
The department is responsible for ensuring collaboration with its portfolio partners and agencies which are also involved in regulating and supporting Canadian agriculture, including the Farm Products Council of Canada. The department also includes the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency, a special operating agency that regulates and supervises pari-mutuel betting on horse racing at racetracks across Canada.
While the Canadian Food Inspection Agency reports to the Minister of Health, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is responsible for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's non-food safety activities, including economic and trade issues, consumer protection, as well as animal health and plant protection work.
Operating context
The Canadian agriculture and agri-food system, which includes all stages of the value chain — primary agriculture, food and beverages processing, farm and food wholesale, food retail, farm inputs and service suppliers, and food services — is a complex and integrated supply chain that brings significant benefits at both provincial-territorial and national levels. The agriculture and agri-food sector is an important driver of exports and is key to supporting Canada's future economic growth. In 2023, the agriculture and agri-food system generated $150 billion in Canadian gross domestic product (GDP), and accounted for 1 in 9 jobs, employing 2.3 million people.
The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) is a $3.5-billion, 5-year (2023 to 2028) agreement between federal, provincial and territorial governments. This agricultural policy framework includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and $2.5 billion in cost-shared programs and activities that are cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs designed and delivered by provinces and territories. Together these investments support the agriculture and agri-food sector for continued success as a world leader in economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable agriculture.
Over the 5-year framework, the Sustainable CAP will advance 5 priority areas: climate change and environment; markets and trade; building sector capacity, growth, and competitiveness; science, research, and innovation; and resiliency and public trust. This framework will position the sector for continued success. It will enable an innovative, productive, and internationally competitive sector that can continue to feed Canadians as well as a growing global population at a time when rising costs and global food security are significant concerns.
The Sustainable CAP focusses on measuring the impacts of investments and includes targets such as a 3- to 5-megatonne reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, increasing sector competitiveness, revenue, and exports as well as increased participation of Indigenous communities, women, and youth.
With over half of the value of agricultural production being exported, the growth of the sector is significantly influenced by an increasing global demand for agricultural products, shifting consumer preferences, and the preservation and expansion of market access. In 2023, the total value of Canadian agriculture, agri-food, fish, and seafood exports reached an all-time high of $99.1 billion. Three-quarters of Canada's agriculture and agri-food exports (77%) were destined to countries where Canada has a trade agreement that is signed or in force. However, tariffs and non-tariff barriers can impact the economic outlook for producers who depend on export markets for their products. AAFC is committed to maintaining, diversifying, and expanding market access, and to enhancing the ability of the Canadian agricultural sector to seize domestic and international opportunities.
Investments in science and innovation are critical to maintaining the profitability, competitiveness, and sustainability of Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector and are fundamental to Canada's growth agenda. Collaborations among different levels of government, Indigenous communities, industry, and academia are leveraging the necessary scientific capacity and partnerships to capture key opportunities for the agricultural sector to accelerate the progress of science and technology development and knowledge transfer, as well as to position the sector to address increasingly complex challenges.
Agriculture also plays a key role in meeting government commitments related to clean growth and climate change. Through the Sustainable CAP, AAFC supports the resiliency and sustainability of the sector, helping farmers adapt to climate change, conserve water and soil resources, and grow their businesses sustainably while meeting increasing global food demand. In addition, AAFC is implementing initiatives to support the Government of Canada's strengthened climate plan and actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and realize other environmental benefits within the sector.
In addition to the economic forces within a competitive global marketplace, farmers face increased threats to food production and income posed by extreme weather events and animal or plant disease outbreaks. The Sustainable CAP enables the continuation of the suite of business risk management tools to help producers manage risks that threaten the viability of their farms.
The department works with provincial and territorial governments, other government departments, and industry stakeholders to maintain the integrity of supply chains and to protect the health and safety of workers, ensuring Canadians continue to have access to safe and nutritious food.
Ensuring alignment and facilitating responsiveness to the external environment is key to sector performance. Through ongoing engagement with industry stakeholders, AAFC strives to ensure its programs and services reflect the needs and expectations of the agriculture and agri-food sector in the context of current risks and opportunities. Furthermore, a more diverse and inclusive labour force can provide significant benefits to the sector in supporting competitiveness, sustainable growth, and innovation. The department remains committed to supporting diversity, equity, and the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and other underrepresented and marginalized groups in the agriculture and agri-food sector — including women, youth, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, official languages minority communities, and 2SLGBTQI+ communities — through efforts to address barriers, increase representation, and provide inclusive and accessible programs and services.