2020-2021 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

Explore options and initiate implementation of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Portfolio 2050 Carbon-neutral study.

Construct all new federal buildings (including build-to-lease and public-private partnerships), starting at the latest in 2022, to be net-zero carbon unless a lifecycle cost benefit analysis indicates net-zero carbon ready construction, and unless incremental central funding is unavailable for projects with costs exceeding what departments can support within existing reference levels.

Performance indicators:

Percentage change in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005-06 fiscal year (baseline) to current reporting fiscal year for:

• Facilities
• Fleet

Starting points:

• 35.6% (59.3 ktCO2e^{Table 1 Footnote 1} in 2018-19 relative to 2005-06 (92.0 ktCO2e) for facilities)
• 50% (4.1 ktCO2e) in 2018-19 relative to 2005-06 (8.2 ktCO2e) for fleet

Targets:

• 40% by 2030-31 and 80% by 2050-51 relative to 2005-06 for facilities
• 40% by 2030-31 and 80% by 2050-51 relative to 2005-06 for fleet

Result:

Percentage (%) reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from facilities from fiscal year 2005-06 (baseline) to fiscal year 2020-21 = 45.7%

Greenhouse gas emissions from facilities in fiscal year 2020-21 = 55.3 ktCO2e.

Renewable power emission credits applied in fiscal year 2020-21 = 5.3 ktCO2e.

FSDS: Actions that reduce the demand for energy or switch to lower carbon sources of energy will lead to reductions in greenhouse gases from building operations.

Contribution to United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

Deploy clean technologies as part of undertaking building energy efficiency measures, striving to do so on a holistic facility-basis to achieve deeper greenhouse gas reductions, which may include heating, ventilation, and air conditioning building automation optimization retrofit projects for laboratory and office complexes, and building recommissioning.

Undertake facility manager energy training sessions, and increase employee awareness of energy conservation practices.

The deployment of clean technology as part of building energy efficiency projects will raise awareness about clean technology opportunities in the built environment including specialized buildings, and ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support more efficient production and consumption

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy

Reduce carbon intensity through vehicle purchase and replacement (e.g., electric vehicles, hybrids, more fuel efficient vehicles), including by ensuring that 75% of new light-duty unmodified administrative fleet vehicle purchases, and all new executive vehicle purchases, will be zero-emission vehicles or hybrids.

Use telematics analysis to right-size fleet (number of vehicles, class of vehicles) and decarbonize on-road vehicles suitable for conversion from conventional fossil fuel to zero-emission vehicles and hybrids.

Promote behavior change (e.g., through anti-idling campaigns, driver training, increased pooling of vehicles, and reducing elective employee travel).

Augment infrastructure in support of plug-in electric vehicles.

Greenhouse gas emissions from fleet in fiscal year 2005–06 (base year) remains the same at 8.2 ktCO2e

Greenhouse gas emissions from fleet in fiscal year 2020-21 = 2.57 ktCO2e

Percentage (%) reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from fleet from fiscal year 2005-06 to fiscal year 2020-21 = 68%

(2005 – 1,313 vehicles, 2021 – 869 vehicles)

Telematics were deployed in 774 vehicles and electric vehicle charging stations at 13 research centres in support of 21 plug-in electric vehicles continue to be maintained

Trained 815 employees in Green Defensive Driving

Replaced 80 older, less fuel-efficient vehicles with new, more fuel-efficient vehicles

Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by reducing fuel consumption, by increasing usage of low-carbon transportation solutions, and by replacing conventional fossil-fueled vehicles over their lifetimes with zero-emission vehicles and hybrids.

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

Track and disclose waste diversion rates by 2022 for applicable Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada custodial facilities.

Complete a pilot project at an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research center to optimize the reduction and diversion of waste, and develop lessons learned.

Implement waste reduction measures at custodial facilities on a priority basis, where services exist, where the quantity of waste warrants it, and as waste contracts are renewed.

Performance indicator:

Percentage of non-hazardous operational waste diverted (based on a rolling average of the mass of diverted waste, divided by the total mass of waste)

Starting point:

39% from fiscal years 2007-08 to 2016-17

Based on annualized data from latest waste audits for the four Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada custodial facilities which meet the Treasury Board Secretariat reporting requirements

Target:

75% by 2030-31

Result:

The first reporting year for waste diversion rates will be 2022-23

Waste audits were not conducted in 2020-21 and the pilot project was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic

A national waste management study was completed for AAFC sites across the country to gain information on current practices and recommendations

New waste-hauling clauses were developed to track weights of waste removed from sites and were included in 3 new contracts

Actions that reduce the generation of non-hazardous operational waste will help to reduce indirect Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions for the production, transport and disposal of material.

Diverting waste from landfill reduces landfill gas and transport hauling emissions.

Material recovery via recycling reduces emissions for the extraction and production of virgin materials.

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

Track and disclose plastic waste diversion rates by 2022 for applicable Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada custodial facilities.

Promote the elimination of unnecessary use of single-use plastics in departmental operations, events and meetings.

When procuring products that contain plastics, promote the procurement of sustainable plastic products, and the reduction of associated plastic packaging waste.

Performance indicator:

Percentage of plastic waste diverted (based on a rolling average of the mass of diverted plastic waste, divided by the total mass of plastic waste)

Starting point:

25% from fiscal years 2007-08 to 2016-17

Based on annualized data from latest waste audits for the four Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada custodial facilities which meet the Treasury Board Secretariat reporting requirements

Target:

75% by 2030-31

Result: The first reporting year on plastic diversion rates will be 2022-23

Waste audits were not conducted in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; therefore, diversion rates are not available for 2020-21

The National Waste Management Study (noted above) included a review of plastic waste

Actions that reduce the generation of plastic waste will help to reduce indirect Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions for the production, transport and disposal of material.

Diverting waste from the landfill reduces landfill gas and transport waste hauling emissions.

Material recovery via recycling reduces emissions for the extraction and production of virgin materials.

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

Performance indicator:

Percentage of construction and demolition waste diverted (based on the mass of diverted construction and demolition waste, divided by the total mass of construction and demolition waste, for applicable projects in a given fiscal year)

Starting point:

No starting point is available

Target:

90% by 2030-31, striving to achieve 100%

Metrics follow Treasury Board Secretariat reporting requirements

Actions that reduce the generation of construction and demolition waste will help to reduce indirect Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions for the production, transport, and disposal of material.

Diverting waste from the landfill reduces landfill gas and transport waste hauling emissions.

Material recovery via recycling reduces emissions for the extraction and production of virgin materials.

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

Ensure that 75% of new light-duty unmodified administrative fleet vehicle purchases will be zero-emission vehicles or hybrids.
Ensure that all new executive vehicle purchases will be zero-emission vehicles or hybrids.

Performance indicators:

• Percentage of annual administrative fleet purchases that are zero-emission or hybrid vehicles (where more than one option exists)
• Percentage of zero-emission or hybrid vehicles in overall administrative fleet
• Percent of annual executive vehicle purchases that are zero-emission or hybrid

Starting points:

• 100% in 2018-19
• 6% in 2018-19
• No starting point is available

Targets:

• 75% by 2020-21
• 80% by 2030-31
• 100% by 2020-21

Result: in 2020-21, 100% of annual administrative fleet purchases were zero-emission or hybrid vehicles (12 hybrids, 10 plug-in electric vehicles)

In 2021, 11% of the overall administrative fleet were zero-emission

In 2021, 100% of the annual executive vehicle purchases were zero-emission or hybrid (1 executive vehicle)

Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by reducing fuel consumption, by increasing usage of low-carbon transportation solutions, and by replacing conventional fossil-fueled vehicles over their lifetimes with zero-emission vehicles and hybrids.

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

By 2022, departments have developed measures to reduce climate change risks to assets, services and operations

Performance indicators and targets:

• Climate change risk assessment of departmental custodial assets and operations completed by 2021
• Measures are developed to reduce climate change risks to departmental custodial assets, and operations by 2022
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's next Five Year Investment Plan, expected in 2022, incorporates consideration of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures

Starting points:

No starting points are available

Result: To promote a consistent Government of Canada approach, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) leads the development of the central terms of reference and consultant standing offers for departments to assess their unique climate change risks.

In 2021, due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, PSPC has only recently established the standing offers and the climate change risk assessments of departmental custodial assets and operations have not yet been completed. However, AAFC is now in the process of accessing these services and can start achieving progress towards this performance indicator

Factoring climate variability and change into operations is an important way the government can adapt to a changing climate. It is also consistent with the government's risk management approach of enhancing the protection of public assets and resources, and strengthening planning and decision-making.

SDG 13 – Climate Action

Performance indicator:

Percentage of major real property projects completed in the reporting year that conform to the applicable National Research Council Canada climate-resilient building codes in place at the design stage.

Starting point:

No starting point is available.

Target:

100% by 2020-21

Results are not available for 2020-21. AAFC will continue to consult with National Research Council Canada on their progress toward development of the climate-resilient building codes

Early adoption of the codes in the construction of buildings demonstrates federal leadership in climate resilient buildings.

SDG 13 – Climate Action

Participate and support the Clean Electricity Procurement Initiative led by Public Services and Procurement Canada on behalf of federal departments and agencies.

Continue to procure 35% green electricity from renewable energy sources for Alberta facilities until at least December 2021.

Performance indicator:

Percentage of clean electricity (based on electricity consumption from non-emitting sources, including renewable energy certificates, divided by the total electricity consumption in the fiscal year

Starting point:

73% in 2018-19 (provided by Treasury Board Secretariat based on 2017 provincial electricity grids)

Target:

100% in 2025-26

Result:

Percentage of clean electricity in fiscal year 2019-20 (provided by Treasury Board Secretariat based on most recently available data) = 73.4%

PSPC continue to negotiate contracts for clean electricity and AAFC will participate as appropriate

As part of an Alberta bulk electricity contract led by Public Services and Procurement Canada, AAFC purchased 44.5% green electricity from renewable energy sources at its Alberta facilities in 2020-21

The use of clean electricity eliminates greenhouse gas emissions in jurisdictions with emitting generation sources.

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy

Actions supporting the Goal: Greening Government

[This section is for actions that support the Greening Government Goal but do not directly support a FSDS target]

Integrate environmental considerations into procurement management processes and controls.

Promote and leverage common use procurement instruments and tools that incorporate environmental considerations where available and feasible.

Performance indicators:

• Percentage of procurement files reviewed by the Procurement Review Board (PRB) that contemplated environmental considerations for applicable commodities in a given fiscal year
• Inclusion of environmental considerations in procurements valued over $2 million

Starting points:

• 42% in 2018-19 (based on submissions with a value of $100,000 or greater)
• 100% in 2018-19 (only one file in 2018-19 was valued at over $2 million, and it incorporated green considerations)

Targets:

• 50% in each fiscal year
• 50% in each fiscal year

Result: in 2020-21, 57% of procurement files for all commodities reviewed by the Procurement Review Board (PRB) included environmental considerations.

Result: in 2020-21, 81%  of procurements valued over $2 million included environmental considerations

Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

Performance indicator:

Number of functional heads (Director General and Director) of procurement and material whose performance evaluation includes support and/or contribution towards green procurement

Starting point:

Two positions (100%): Director General, Real Property and Asset Management, and Director, Material Management, in 2018-19

Target:

100% in each fiscal year

Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

Target 12.7

Performance indicator:

Percentage reduction in business travel emissions, relative to 2005-06 fiscal year

Starting points:

60% reduction in 2018-19
(3.7 ktCO2e) relative to 2005-06 (9.2 ktCO2e)

Target:

Maintain at least 35% reduction until 2020-21 relative to 2005-06

Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

Target 12.7

Explore opportunities to participate in the Innovation Solutions Canada Testing Stream.
Develop operational innovation proposals for the Greening Government Fund.

Performance indicators and targets:

• Participation in Innovation Solutions Canada's Testing Stream if matching proposals exist, during 2020-23

• Participation in Greening Government Fund initiative during 2020-23

Starting points:

No starting points are available

Result: in 2020-21, AAFC participated in 6 Innovation Solutions Canada’s Testing Streams

Result: in 2020-21, AAFC submitted projects for consideration to participate in the Greening Government Fund Initiative. One project received approval, however the feasibility study determined it was not feasible to pursue it further at this time. AAFC will continue to explore opportunities for operational innovation proposals 

Incent, support, or procure state-of-the-art innovative clean technologies that lower the environmental footprint of government operations while contributing to the success of clean-tech businesses in Canada.

SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy

SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth

Performance indicator:

Percentage of specialists in procurement (PG employees) who have completed training on green procurement, as of March 31 of each fiscal year

Starting point:

63% in 2018-19

Target:

65% in each fiscal year

Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to green their goods, services and supply chain.

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
Target 12.7

Performance indicator:

Total number of peer-reviewed publications published under the current Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (2017-21)

Starting point:

48 as of 2018-19

Target:

Cumulative target of 140 by March 31, 2021

FSDS: Research under this program will support an increased understanding and knowledge of the chemical, physical, and biological processes that lead to greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural systems into surface water, ground water, and the atmosphere. Developing a solid research base creates the foundation for Canada’s agricultural sector to contribute to an overall reduction in Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Contribution to United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):

SDG 2: Zero hunger

SDG 13: Climate action

Performance indicator:

Starting point:

1,494 articles under the previous Growing Forward 2 policy framework (2013-18)^{Table 2 Footnote 1}

Target:

At least 1,200 additional articles under the current Canadian Agricultural Partnership policy framework (2018-23)

Result: As of March 31, 2021,1324 additional articles were accepted under the current Canadian Agriculture Partnership policy framework (2018-23)

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's scientific research addresses key challenges and opportunities facing agricultural production, and informs the development of departmental and broader government policies regarding adaptation to climate risk. The development of climate change research increases knowledge by the scientific community in the area of climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture.

SDG 2: Zero hunger

SDG 13: Climate action

Work with provinces and territories through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to build the capacity of Canada's agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector to encourage all aspects of the sector to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and beneficial management practices at farm and regional levels, with the central focus of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the effects of climate change.

Performance indicators:

1. Number of environmental risk assessments (for example, Environmental Farm Plans or equivalent) developed or updated
2. Number of on-farm beneficial management practices projects completed
3. Number of agri-food processor beneficial management practices projects completed

Starting points:

Starting points based on the 2018-19 fiscal year are as follows:

1. 8,117
2. 4,234
3. 14

Targets:

Cumulative targets to achieve by March 31, 2023^{Table 2 Footnote 2} are as follows:

1. 11,885
2. 21,374
3. 94

Result 1: As of March 31, 2020, 13,148 environmental risk assessments (for example, Environmental Farm Plans or equivalent) were either developed or updated

Result 2: As of March 31, 2020, 10,406 on-farm beneficial management practices projects were completed

Result 3: As of March 31, 2020, 91 agri-food processor beneficial management practices projects were completed

(Provincial and territorial reporting data is 1-year behind)

Programming under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership aims to increase the awareness and knowledge of beneficial management practices and climate change. It also aims to increase the adoption of practices and technologies to improve environmental performance, adapt to climate change, and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.

SDG 2: Zero hunger

SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth

SDG 13: Climate action

Performance indicator:

Number of newly developed technologies and beneficial management practices demonstrated through field days and workshops

Starting point:

49 under the previous Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (2011-16)

Target:

50 additional by March 31, 2021 under the current Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (2017-21)

Result:

As of March 31, 2021, the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program has developed and demonstrated a total of 25 new technologies and beneficial management practices to farmers since the beginning of the program in 2017

(note: this represents all results for 2017-18 to 2019-20, and results reported to date for the 2020-21 fiscal year)

This result falls short of the target of 50 that was set for the program. Many of the demonstration events that had been planned to take place in the final year of the program were not able to do so as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic

The Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program supports projects that will create technologies, practices, and processes that can be adopted by farmers to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. These projects will also help farmers increase their understanding of how greenhouse gas emissions are connected to farming practices.

By making such information, practices and technologies available to farmers, the program will ultimately contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and other positive longer-term environmental impacts for Canada. In turn, this will support the Government of Canada's commitments to the environment and to climate change.

SDG 2: Zero hunger

SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth

SDG 13: Climate action

Develop a departmental climate action plan that outlines measures to mitigate climate change risks to department operations and programs, as a follow-up to the departmental climate change risk assessment completed in 2019. The action plan will address the following priority actions:

• Assess climate change risks to departmental assets by 2021 (see associated adaptation target in the Greening Government section of this DSDS).
• Further incorporate climate change into departmental processes through future risk management process and develop indicators for sector climate resilience in collaboration with partners.
• Continue to assess climate change impacts on business risk management programs.

Enhance staff communication related to departmental climate risks.

Performance indicator:  
A climate action plan is developed to report and track progress on measures to reduce climate change risks to the department’s areas of responsibility (programs and operations)

Starting point: 

Departmental climate change risk assessment completed in 2019

Target:

By 2022, develop a departmental climate action plan

Understanding climate change risks to departmental operations and programs will allow adaptation measures to be planned and implemented effectively. This will entail increased training and support on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments and developing adaptation actions for public service employees, and facilitating the sharing of best practices and lessons learned.

SDG 13: Climate action

Actions supporting the goal: Sustainable Food

Make healthier food choices easier

Deliver the Local Food Infrastructure Fund which supports local food projects, such as those at food banks and community gardens across Canada, to provide at-risk populations, such as the less privileged and isolated communities, with improved access to healthy foods through investments in infrastructure.

Performance indicator:

Number of small-scale (less than $50,000) and large-scale (greater than $50,000) infrastructure investments

Starting point:

Initiative was launched in June 2019. In 2019–20, 362 infrastructure investments were approved

Target:

1630 (1495 small investments + 135 large investments) – to be achieved by March 2024

Result: In 2020-21, 319 small-scale and 53 large-scale infrastructure investments were made

Cumulative target: 734 infrastructure investments

FSDS: As organizations make increased investments in local food infrastructure, their capacity to provide healthy and nutritious food to the most vulnerable populations will increase. This increase in capacity will lead to an increased availability of healthy and nutritious food within these communities across Canada.

Contribution to United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):

SDG 2: Zero hunger

Actions supporting the goal: Sustainable Food

Make healthier food choices easier

Deliver the Emergency Food Security Fund which provides funding to Canadian food banks and other national food rescue organizations to help improve access to food for people experiencing food insecurity in Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^{footnote 1}

Performance indicator:

Number of local food service organizations that receive food or funding through the program

Starting point:

This is a new initiative launched in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of December 31, 2020, 3220 local food organizations receive food or funding

Target:

A target has not been set for this indicator

Result: As of March 31, 2021, 3,725 projects led to local food organizations receiving food or funding

Note that some recipients received funding through more than 1 project, especially between the 2 rounds of Emergency Food Security funding, so the number of projects does not indicate the number of unique local food organizations that received food or funding

The funding will be used to purchase and distribute food and to hire workers where volunteers are unavailable and buy personal protective equipment to help keep workers, volunteers, and visitors at food banks and local food organizations safe.  This increase in funding will lead to an increased availability of healthy and nutritious food available during the pandemic.

SDG 2: Zero hunger

Actions supporting the goal: Sustainable Food

Make healthier food choices easier

Deliver the Surplus Food Rescue Program which aims to move surplus food commodities, caused by COVID-19’s significant disruption to the Canadian food system, to food banks and other food security organizations in communities across Canada. ^{Table 2 Footnote 2}

Performance indicator:

Volume and value of excess food rescued

Starting point:

This is a new initiative launched in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of December 31, 2020, 7.3 million kg of food totalling $38.4 million was rescued

Target:

A target has not been set for this indicator

Result: As of March 31, 2021, 7.8 million kg of excess food totaling $41.2 million has been rescued

The program provides assistance to organizations serving vulnerable populations to acquire and process surplus commodities and food that would otherwise be lost or destroyed and distribute them to populations in need.

SDG 2: Zero hunger

SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production

Actions supporting the goal: Sustainable Food

Other

Develop and launch the Food Waste Reduction Challenge which will accelerate the implementation of innovative and concrete actions to reduce food waste in Canada.

Performance indicator:

Number of challenges issued for innovative ideas to reduce food waste

Starting point:

This is a new initiative announced in June 2019

Target:

Minimum of one challenge issued by December 31, 2020

Result: The target was met as streams A & B of the challenge were issued by December 31, 2020. These streams focus on solutions that provide an innovative way of doing business to reduce food waste across any or multiple stages of the food supply chain

Issuing challenges will attract new ideas and resources for solving the complex problems of food waste in Canada. New collaborations among non-traditional partners and problem solvers will be developed, which will build capacity and facilitate the development of new innovations that help advance sustainability efforts by reducing and preventing food waste across the Canadian food supply chain. This will decrease greenhouse gas emissions and increase food availability. Not only will a winning innovative solution be identified, but each challenge will result in attracting multiple innovations that will help reduce food waste in Canada.

SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production

Actions supporting the goal: Sustainable Food

Increase knowledge supporting sustainable agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture

Conduct research to increase knowledge on the environmental effects of agriculture, including ways the sector can help protect the environment.

Performance indicator:

The number of scientific articles related to nutrient cycling, soil quality, and water resources/quality, that are accepted for publication through an external peer-reviewed process

Starting point:

The starting points based on the previous Growing Forward 2 policy framework (2013-18), are as follows:

• Nutrient cycling: 600
• Soil quality: 1,500
• Water resources/quality: 2,000

Targets:

The targets to achieve under the current Canadian Agricultural Partnership policy framework (2018-23) are as follows:

• Nutrient cycling: 600
• Soil quality: 1,500
• Water resources/quality: 2,000

Result: In 2020-21,

• 868 scientific articles related to nutrient cycling
• 1637 scientific articles related to soil quality
• 699 scientific articles related to water resources/quality

were accepted for publication through an external peer-reviewed process under the current Canadian Agriculture Partnership policy framework (2018-23)

Scientific research undertaken by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in collaboration with federal, provincial, and non-government organization partners, serves to make agricultural production more sustainable as scientific knowledge leads to the development of practices and processes that can be adopted in Canada. Conducting research thus contributes to the overall stability of agricultural working landscapes and their ability to sustain a high level of agricultural production by Canadian farmers.

Peer-reviewed publications can be viewed at Agricultural Research Results.

SDG 2: Zero hunger

SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production

SDG 15: Life on land

Actions supporting the goal: Sustainable Food

Other

Establish fora to facilitate strategic industry-government collaboration on key environmental issues facing the sector, such as a Sustainability Table.

Performance indicator:

Frequency of meetings

Starting point:

Inaugural meeting of the Sustainability Table will take place in 2020

Target:

Six in-person meetings by March 31, 2023

Result: In 2020-21, 3 virtual meetings (replacing in-person meetings) of the Sustainability Table took place, including the inaugural meeting on December 10, 2020

These collaborative fora will support the long-term resilience and sustainability of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector through engagement with members from the food value chain, including to inform departmental policies and programs that promote and support sustainable agriculture practices and agri-food products.

SDG 2: Zero hunger

SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production

SDG 15: Life on land

By 2030, support improvement in the environmental performance of the agricultural sector by achieving a score of 71 or higher for the Index of Agri-Environmental Sustainability (reflecting the quality of the water, soil, air and biodiversity)

Other

Assess and report on the collective environmental impact of the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices by farmers on the Canadian landscape.

Performance indicator:

Index of Agri-Environmental Sustainability score

Starting point:

65 (based on 2011 data)

Target:

71 or higher by 2030

Data from specific indicator models will be available for industry and provinces to assess sustainability levels every year by 2023. Analysis of trends for indicator models will be available every two years beginning in 2023.

See the Agri-Environmental Indicator Report Series – Report #4

Result: No new data is available to report on the target to achieve a result of 71 or higher

The data is based on the Census of Agriculture, which has a 5-year lag. The results of the 2016 Census will be available in May 2021. The Index is expected to be updated by December 2021

Regular reporting on the environmental sustainability of Canadian agriculture provides an indication of the overall stability of the agricultural working environment, which assesses nutrient management, as well as the quality of water, soil, air, and biodiversity.

Monitoring the agriculture sector’s environmental sustainability helps federal, provincial, and non-government partners to assess whether their policies are effective in helping the sector take actions to minimize environmental risks, and use inputs efficiently.

SDG 2: Zero hunger

SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production

SDG 15: Life on land

Grow Canada's agri-food exports to $75 billion per year by 2025

Promote innovation and secure our position as a preferred agri-food supplier to high-value markets

Track the value of agriculture and agri-food exports to measure the sector's contribution to Canada's economic growth.

Performance indicator:

Value of agriculture and agri-food exports

Starting point:

$66.2 billion in 2018-2019

Target:

At least $75 billion by March 2025

Result: In 2020-21, the value of Canadian agriculture and agri-food exports was $73.9 billion

Tracking the value of Canadian agriculture and agri-food exports will help assess the sector's ability to compete in the global marketplace and to efficiently respond to consumer and market trends for sustainable food. The Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector will be more innovative, resilient, competitive, and environmentally sustainable to help maintain access to existing markets and open new markets, creating opportunities for economic growth.

SDG 2: Zero hunger

SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production

SDG 15: Life on land

Grow Canada's agri-food exports to $75 billion per year by 2025

Promote innovation and secure our position as a preferred agri-food supplier to high-value markets

Accelerate the demonstration, commercialization, and/or adoption of innovative agri-based products, technologies, processes, or services that increase the competitiveness and sustainability of the agriculture and agri-food sector, by continuing to fund the AgriInnovate Program.

Performance indicator:

Percentage increase in the dollar value of annual export revenues of participating firms

Starting point:

148% based on only nine participating firms reporting from 2015-19 under the previous program

Target:

168% by March 28, 2028 under the current AgriInnovate program (2018-23)

Result: As of 2020-21, the dollar value of annual export revenues of participating firms increased by 154%, with 4 of the 22 projects reporting preliminary results

This program is intended to address the financing gap present between moving agricultural, agri-food and agri-based research to commercialization, and to assist industry in mitigating the risk inherent in scaling-up products, processes, services, and technologies. This program supports agricultural, agri-food, and agri-based businesses in being innovative and sustainable, and strengthens their ability to compete in the global economy.

SDG 2: Zero hunger

SDG 3: Good health and well-being

Grow Canada's agri-food exports to $75 billion per year by 2025

Promote innovation and secure our position as a preferred agri-food supplier to high-value markets

Build the capacity of Canada's agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sector to promote innovation through the generation and commercialization of new technologies.

Performance indicators:

The number of new technologies (products, practices, processes, and systems) that:

• Are developed
• Are assessed under research conditions
• Are demonstrated on-farm or in-plant
• Attain IP protection
• Are utilized

Starting points:

Based on the 2018-19 fiscal year, the number of new technologies (products, practices, processes, and systems):

• 475
• 410
• 219
• 97
• 213

Targets:

Cumulative targets to achieve under the current Canadian Agricultural Partnership policy framework (2018-23) ^{footnote 3} are as follows: 

• 1,183
• 735
• 1,227
• 72
• 1,300

The five-year target for the number of new technologies attaining IP protection was surpassed in the first year of reporting.

Result: As of March 31, 2020, 868 new technologies were developed

970 new technologies were assessed under research conditions

712 new technologies were demonstrated on-farm or in-plant

149 number of new technologies attained intellectual property (IP) rights protection

540 new technologies were utilized

(Provincial and territorial reporting data is 1-year behind)

Collective action by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and its federal, provincial, territorial, and non-government organization partners contributes to the overall stability of agricultural working environments and their ability to sustain a high level of agricultural production. This includes by providing programming support that promotes innovation through the generation and commercialization of new agriculture and agri-food technologies.

SDG 2: Zero hunger

SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth

Grow Canada's agri-food exports to $75 billion per year by 2025

Promote innovation and secure our position as a preferred agri-food supplier to high-value markets

Provide programming support to the provinces and territories through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership to build the capacity of Canada's agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sector to promote innovation by bringing awareness to new market opportunities through the development and dissemination of market intelligence.

Performance indicator:

Number of market information and intelligence products created, updated, or disseminated by type of Industry.

Starting point:

411 for the 2018-19 fiscal year

Target:

Cumulative target of 2,073 by 2022-23^{footnote 4}

Result:

As of March 31, 2020, 1,353 market information and intelligence products were created, updated, or disseminated

(Provincial and territorial reporting data is 1-year behind)

Generic and customized information and intelligence supports the sector in assessing market opportunities. Capitalizing on market opportunities, including high-value market opportunities, is not only innovative but necessary in expanding the domestic and international market presence of Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector, and in securing Canada's position as a preferred agri-food supplier.

SDG 2: Zero hunger

SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth