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
Canada's diverse agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sector is a driver of economic growth, innovation, trade, and investment at home and abroad. A major contributor to the Canadian economy, the agriculture and agri-food system, including food retail and food service, contributed $143.8 billion to Canada's gross domestic product in 2022, and was responsible for approximately 2.3 million jobs in the country.
The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), which came into effect on April 1, 2023, is a five-year (2023 to 2028) agricultural policy framework for federal, provincial, and territorial (FPT) governments. This agreement will inject $500 million in new cost-shared funds compared to its predecessor, the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (2018 to 2023), representing a total of $3.5 billion to support the agriculture and agri-food sector in rising to the challenges of climate change, expanding new markets and trade while meeting consumer expectations, and feeding a growing domestic and international population.
This agreement marks an ambitious path forward to advance the five priorities agreed upon by FPT Ministers: climate change and environment; markets and trade; building sector capacity, growth and competitiveness; science, research and innovation; and resiliency and public trust. The Sustainable CAP will position the sector for continued success as a world leader in environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable agriculture. It will enable an innovative and productive, 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 includes stronger targets, such as a three- to five-megatonne reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, increasing sector competitiveness, revenue and exports, and increased participation of Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth. There will also be an enhanced focus on measuring the results of framework investments.
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 2022, the total value of Canadian agriculture, agri-food and seafood exports reached an all-time high of $93 billion. Nearly three quarters of Canada's agriculture and agri-food exports went 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. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is committed to maintaining and expanding market access and to enhancing the ability of the Canadian agricultural sector to seize domestic and international opportunities.
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. Increasingly, a collaborative approach is being used across government, Indigenous communities, industry, and academia to build the necessary scientific capacity to capture key opportunities for the agricultural sector, and to accelerate the flow of science and technology in support of industry-defined strategies for future success.
Agriculture also plays a key role in meeting the government commitments related to clean growth and climate change. Through the Sustainable CAP, AAFC helps support the resiliency and sustainability of the sector, helping farmers adapt to climate change, conserve water and soil resources, and grow their businesses sustainably to meet increasing global food demand. In addition, AAFC is implementing initiatives in support of the Government of Canada's strengthened climate plan to support 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 effective implementation of a suite of Business Risk Management tools for producers when they face significant risks supports sustainable growth. Furthermore, consumer demands are increasingly focused on the production methods and characteristics of Canadian products.
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 that Canadians continued 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 that 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, 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 by striving for equitable access to programs and services.