The Sector Engagement Tables (SETs) are intended to create purposeful dialogue between agriculture and agri-food sector representatives and government officials to collectively advance growth and competitiveness in Canada.
This new engagement model was launched in December 2020 to replace the Value Chain Roundtables that were active since 2003.
Four thematic tables focus on systemic, cross-cutting issues that affect the sector as a whole:
- Agile Regulations
- Consumer Demand and Market Trends
- Skills Development
- Sustainability
The model also includes five sector tables that focus on implementing solutions to systemic issues in the context of their sub-sectors:
- Animal Protein
- Field Crops
- Food Manufacturers
- Horticulture
- Seafood
A leadership table serves as the focal point to guide the work of all tables in the SET model. It consists of all SET co-chairs (industry and government) as well as the leads of other forums (for example, Canadian Agricultural Youth Council, Food Policy Advisory Council).
How the tables work
All tables are led by a pair of co-chairs—one government official and one sector representative. Table membership aims to be focused but diverse, including a balance between sector associations, producers and processors across the value chain, as well as leaders from academia and fields such as technology, sustainability, and consumer research. Specific to each table, there is also participation from other federal government departments, such as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Health Canada, Global Affairs Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada, and/or Employment and Social Development Canada; as well as provincial government representatives.
Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) is committed to greater inclusion of underrepresented voices in sector discussions, both through membership on the tables as well as by exploring the creation of specific engagement mechanisms for youth, women, and Indigenous Peoples.
Each table's activities is informed by a strategic planning process, as well as through communication with other tables within the model. They will all align with the following functioning principles:
- Outcome-driven results: Clear deliverables (such as recommendations, reports or new initiatives) and progress measurement
- Forward-facing: Actions focused on strategically advancing the sector
- Collaborative: Focus on sector-government collaboration to advance policies and initiatives
- Unique: Avoid duplication with other mechanisms and forums
Time-limited and issue-specific working groups will be established to advance the work of the tables—supporting either an individual table or multiple tables—with the ability to bring in additional expertise from outside the membership.
Description of the image above
The chart shows the Sector Engagement Table Model (SET) as of July 2024.
The model consists of 4 thematic tables and 5 sector tables and a Leadership Table that serves as the focal point to guide the work of all tables in the SET model. Each table has working groups that stem from the strategic plan.
In the first half of the figure:
Thematic Tables and Working Groups
| The four thematic tables | Agile Regulations | Sustainability | Skills Development | Consumer Demand and Market trends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The working Groups under each thematic table |
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In the middle of the figure you see the Leadership Table and the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council (CAYC) which is also part of the model.
The CAYC has 3 working groups: Agricultural Careers and Education, Climate Changes and Environment and Food Security.
In the second half of the figure:
Sector Tables and Working Groups
| The five sector tables | Animal Protein | Field Crop | Horticulture | Seafood | Food Manufacturers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The working Groups under each sector table |
|
|
|
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The figure also contain a legend with colors which represent the cross-cutting issues among the tables.
Legend:
The yellow color represents the theme of Labour which we find under the following tables: Animal Protein, Horticulture, Seafood and Food Manufacturers (Labour – access to TFWs).
The purple color represents the theme of Regulations which we find under the following tables: Agile Regulations (Journey Mapping, Agriculture and Agri-food Regulatory Issues, Regulatory Experimentation and COVID-19 Lessons Learned - work is completed), Animal Protein (Regulations), Horticulture (Crop Protection) and Food Manufacturers (Regulatory – Forced labour legislation and plastic packaging initiatives).
The blue color represents the theme of Research/Technology which we find under the following table: Animal Protein (Technology), Field Crops (Public/Private Research and Innovation ) and Horticulture (Research and Innovation).
The pink color represents the theme of Market Growth which we find under the following tables: Animal Protein (Supply Chain Resiliency), Field Crops (Market Maintenance and Growth) and Seafood (Innovation and Market Growth).
The orange color represents the theme of Sustainability/Environment which we find under the following table: Sustainability (Education and Information Exchange, Measurement, Policy Coherence), the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council (Climate Change and Environment) and Horticulture (Sustainability and Climate Change Adaptation).
The green color represents the theme of Skills/Education which we find under the following table: Skills Development (Career Pathways, Youth, New Entrants and Underrepresented Groups, New Innovative and Flexible Training Options, Understanding of Skills Required – this working group in on hiatus) and the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council (Agricultural Careers and Education).
The grey color represents the theme of Public Trust which we find under the following table: Consumer Demand & Market Trends (Consumer Research, Consumer Engagement) and Seafood (Public Trust).
The blue framed with white color represents the Non cross-cutting issues which we find under the following table: Canadian Agricultural Youth Council (Food Security), Field Crops (Strategic Infrastructure) and Food Manufacturers (Grocery Code).
Meeting highlights and membership
-
Agile Regulations
Table launched in December 2020
Mandate
The agriculture and agri-food regulatory system embraces continuous improvement, striking a balance between meeting regulatory objectives and resolving irritants, while:
- being more inclusive and sensitive to the needs of all stakeholders and the potential inequalities that may exist by improving stakeholder awareness and knowledge of the agri-food regulatory system
- having greater and more consistent collaboration between government departments and stakeholders on regulatory development and management as well as on improving stakeholder navigation
- being market responsive and outcome-based through better understanding cumulative and economic impacts of regulations and providing regulated parties greater flexibility for compliance; and, becoming more forward-looking by leveraging and anticipating opportunities associated with digitization and creating the enabling processes in the regulatory space by setting the conditions for developing, testing and bringing innovative products or processes to market
Strategic plan key highlights
The Table identified three key themes:
- Exploring ways to make the regulatory system easier to navigate
- Providing analytical capacity to better understand cumulative and economic impacts of regulations and how they are administered across the sector
- Contributing to regulatory experimentation and foresight
Meeting highlights
April 19, 2024
- Industry co-chair informed the members of the industry only meeting held on March 14, 2024.
- Government co-chair flagged some regulatory initiatives that were announced in the April 16, 2024 Budget 2024: Fairness for Every Generation.
- Members reviewed proposed priority activities for the year as they relate to novel approaches to regulation, cumulative regulatory burden, the Agriculture and Agri-Food Regulatory Issues Working Group and coordination with other government departments. Overall, members were supportive of the activities as presented with further work needed on next steps.
- AAFC provided an update on the activities of the other Sector Engagement Tables highlighting the regulatory work being done at other Tables (Horticulture, Animal Protein and Seafood).
- AAFC provided a verbal update on the Agriculture and Agri-food Regulatory Issues Working Group. The update noted that a list of regulatory issues will be shared with Working Group members by May 25th and that given there are sector tables with regulations identified as a priority (Animal Protein, Horticulture and Seafood), there will be conversations on how to coordinate regulatory efforts within the model.
- Health Canada (HC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) provided verbal updates on the forward regulatory agendas since the December 2023 ART meeting. CFIA’s Forward Regulatory Plan (FRP) and Health Canada’s 2024-2026 FRP are posted on their Websites.
- The next ART meeting will be held virtually on September 27, 2024.
December 12, 2023
- The Chair of the External Advisory Committee on Regulatory Competitiveness (EACRC), Laura Jones, offered a guest speech on regulatory excellence and shared the EACRC perspective. The EACRC recently published their advice letter to Treasury Board which outlined recommendations along three themes: regulatory excellence, equipping regulators to be first class, and modernizing regulatory engagement.
- Members participated in a panel on cumulative regulatory burden. The panel was facilitated by ART Industry co-chair Keith Mussar and included representation from Laura Jones, EACRC Chair, Sharon Mohammed, Maple Leaf Foods and the Marcia Hewitt-Fischer, Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The objective of this session was to gain a more nuanced understanding of cumulative regulatory burden, the different methods that have been used by various jurisdictions to address the issue, and to chart the first steps towards ART’s path forward on this issue.
- AAFC led a discussion on the annual review of the ART progress relative to its strategic plan. In general, members were supportive of continuing efforts on the top three priorities:
- Standing up a working group to look into improving navigation of the regulatory environment
- Continuing prioritizing regulatory issues and seeking venues for their resolution
- Launching a new working group to look at how the Annual Regulatory Modernization Bill (ARMB) could be leveraged by the ART
- Member discussion throughout the day centered around cumulative regulatory burden, and the timing, coordination, and stakeholder engagement in consultations. Comments on this topic included: the Canadian regulatory system is an asset, and urgently needs help to continue meeting the needs of Canadians; focus on irritants and issues that pose significant burden and do not directly contribute to fundamental regulatory objectives (for example, health and safety standards); go beyond "what was heard" to "what was accomplished"; continue to foster a culture of collaboration and continuous and small irritants can accumulate to pose significant challenges. As a result of the discussion, AAFC will prepare a What We Heard and Next Steps, reflecting the ART’s accomplishments to date, analyzing December 2023 survey results and proposing the set of activities the ART will undertake in 2024 to advance regulatory modernization in the agri-food space.
- In terms of regulatory developments nationally, members heard regulatory updates from Health Canada (HC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS). For example, HC spoke to Part B Food Regulatory Modernization Initiative CFIA updated the Safe Foods For Canadians Act (SFCA) review that is upcoming in 2024 while the TBS updated on the Supply Chain Regulatory Review.
- From an international developments perspective, members heard an update from AAFC regarding the European Union’s Regulation on Deforestation-Free products (EUDR). Members discussed impacts to Canadian industry in terms of reporting requirements, and the presenter will look into member’s technical questions and provide additional information on impacts to Canadian industry in January 2024.
- AAFC also provided an update on the ART’s drone-based pesticide application regulatory experiment. The presentation noted the experiment’s rationale, details, partners, results to date and next steps.
- The next ART meetings will be held in April 2024 (virtual), September 2024 (virtual) and in-person in late November or early December 2024.
September 20, 2023
- AAFC provided a brief update on the SET model, recent activities and plans going forward.
- The Canadian Seed Growers Association presented a high level outline of the their vision for the future of seed regulations, including opportunities for seed regulatory modernization.
- AAFC highlighted the work to date of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Regulatory Issues Working Group and some of the next steps for consideration.
- Members discussed possible topics of interest for the in-person meeting in December.
- The next meeting will be held in-person on December 12, 2023.
Members
Co-chairs
- Keith Mussar, I.E. Canada (Canadian Association of Importers & Exporters)
- Steven Jurgutis, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Sector
- Andre Harpe, Grain Growers of Canada
- Angela Reid, The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada
- Bruce Hardy, Myera Group and Function Four Ltd
- Catherine Filejski, Canadian Animal Health Institute
- Christopher Marinangeli, Protein Industries Canada
- Chloé Belchamber, Canadian Pork Council
- Claire Citeau, Canadian Meat Council
- Colleen McElwain, Animal Health Canada
- Erin Gowriluk, Canada Grains Council
- Ian McFall, Burnbrae Farms
- Jackie Crichton, Canadian Supply Chain Food Safety Coalition
- Jamie Aalbers, Nursery Landscape Association
- Jane Proctor, Canadian Produce Marketing Association
- Jared Cohen, Canadian Cattle Association
- Kate Docking, Fisheries Council of Canada
- Matt Morrison, Dairy Farmers of Canada
- Michi Furuya Chang, Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada
- Mike Scheffel, Canadian Seed Growers' Association
- My-Lien Bosch, Canadian Organic Trade Association
- Olivier Lavigne-Lacroix, Canadian National Millers Association
- Sharon Mohammed, Maple Leaf Foods Inc.
- Steve Leech, Chicken Farmers of Canada
- Stéphane Beausoleil, Westfine Meats/ Sungold
- Stu Porter, Renewable Industries Canada
- Tim Kennedy, Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance
Federal government
- Brett Maxwell, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Evelyn Soo, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Kimberley Zinck, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Luc Rivard, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Mary-Jane Ireland, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Melissa Kardaras, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- James Van Raalte, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
- Ruth Rancy, Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency
Provincial government
- To be determined
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Animal Protein
Table launched in October 2022
Mandate
Advance and strengthen the animal protein sector's competitive position
Strategic plan key highlights
The table identified four key themes:
- Labour
- Support attraction, training and retention of skilled workers
- Enhance awareness, access to, use and support of available labour programs
- Increase awareness of career opportunities
- Supply Chain Resiliency
- Create an inventory of risks and vulnerabilities in all parts of the animal protein sector supply chain
- Develop an action plan to help address risks and improve preparedness
- Regulations
- Identify priority regulatory issues (irritants) across the sector
- Accelerate work on priority regulatory issues through industry-government dialogue
- Review long-standing policies and regulations to consider if the objectives have been achieved
- Create and maintain an evergreen list of priorities regulatory issues for action
- Technology
- Initiate an environmental scan that identifies: industry needs, pain points and adoption rates
- Develop an innovation mechanism (for example, tech challenge) and invite innovators to submit ideas and collaborative solutions
Meeting highlights
May 7, 2024
- Work on the Supply Chain Resiliency working group is in the process of reprioritizing its work following a discussion on the activities of Animal Health Canada.
- The Regulations working group continues to make progress on choosing three regulatory priorities for further examination. The Table will be updated on the status of the work in Fall 2024.
- The Labour working group continues to tie into discussions and work on labour across the SET model and within federal and provincial governments. The table will tie into work on a resource hub, as well as develop case studies that highlight the importance of Temporary Foreign Workers to rural communities in Canada.
- The Technology working group is making progress towards a statement of work for an Environmental Scan. This scan identifies industry needs, existing technologies, pain points and adoption rates in the Canadian marketplace.
January 25, 2024
- The meeting focused on regulations and regulatory issues.
- Keith Mussar from the Agile Regulations Table opened the event highlighting potential links between that table and the Regulations working group from Animal Protein Table.
- The Regulations working group provided an overview of the long list of potential regulatory issues for review. A breakout exercise was undertaken to identify any outstanding issues and to further refine prioritization.
- The Labour and Technology groups are looking to expand membership (processing, dairy and pork) and to work towards an approach to develop an environmental scans.
- The Supply Chain Resiliency working group will focus on transportation and emergency preparedness. A stronger link with Animal Health Canada (AHC) initiatives underway as AHC has a high degree of expertise on emergency management for animal disease outbreaks.
- Table members were able to hear from Transport Canada on a new National Supply Chain Office.
- Table members participated in a second breakout exercise to reconfirm the existing work plan for the table and the working groups.
- Next meetings will be held May 7, 2024, October 7, 2024 (Virtual) and January 22, 2025 (in person).
October 24, 2023
- The sixth Animal Protein Table was held in a virtual format on October 24, 2023.
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The co-chairs from each of the 4 working groups provided an update on their respective working groups. As next steps:
- the Labour Working Group is looking at broadening his membership and then will start with the activity of identifying and filling information gaps as outlined in the strategic plan.
- the Technology Working Group is looking at broadening the membership and the work is expected to focus on the environmental scan of “pain points” within the sector as it relates to technology.
- the Supply Chain Resiliency Working Group proposed to initially focus on transportation and natural disasters/emergency preparedness/future planning themes.
- the Regulations Working Group met will do a prioritization exercise and choose which issues (Feed Industry Barriers, Animal Health and Veterinary Services, Animal Movement and Documentation, Food System – Processing and Inspection, Cross Border Barriers, Other Barriers) to start the work with.
- AAFC provided a presentation on the Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge and talked briefly about the Food Waste Reduction Challenge.
Members
Co-chairs
- Janice Tranberg, National Cattle Feeders Association
- Nicole Howe, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Sector
- Alexandre Fontaine, Montpak
- Annie AcMoody, Dairy Farmers of Canada
- Avery Bruenjes, Retail Council of Canada
- Carl Flis, Canadian Bison Association
- Cassidy Klima, Canadian Cattle Association and Beef Cattle Research Council
- Claire Citeau, Canadian Meat Council
- Colleen McElwain, Animal Health Canada
- Corlena Patterson, Canadian Sheep Federation
- David Anyanwu, Cargill
- Dennis Laycraft, Canadian Cattle Association
- Eric Bienvenue, Canadian Beef
- Jeff Kroll, McDonald's Canada
- Jennifer Wright, Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council
- Joel Neuheimer, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
- Judi Bundrock, Egg Farmers of Canada
- Mark Hubert, Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council
- Mathieu Frigon, Dairy Processors Association of Canada
- Mario Goulet, DuBreton
- Michael Laliberté, Chicken Farmers of Canada
- Mike von Massow, University of Guelph
- Phil Boyd, Turkey Farmers of Canada
- Richard Davies, Olymel
- Sameeha Jhetam, University of Saskatchewan
- Sarah Hopkins, Animal Nutrition Association Canada
- Simona Zar, Restaurant Canada
- Stephen Heckbert, Canadian Pork Council
- Trevor Sears, Canada Pork Council
- Viki Sikur, Canadian Hatching Egg Producers
Federal government
- Audrée Dumouchel, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Darlene McBain, Farm Credit Canada
- Manisha Mehrotra, Health Canada
- Mary-Jane Ireland, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Provincial government
- Renée Bowler, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
- Venkata Vakulabharanam, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
- Labour
-
Consumer Demand and Market Trends
Table launched in April 2021
Mandate
- better understand domestic and international consumer values, preferences, and expectations
- identify key, value-add domestic and international consumer market trends and growth opportunities
- identify approaches to building public trust for key consumer concerns
Strategic Plan key highlights
The table identified 11 initiatives to be supported by 2 working groups:
- Consumer Research Working Group
- Consumer Research Library
- Consumer Research Dissemination
- Consumer Research Environmental Scan and Gap Analysis
- Data Collection to Fill Data Gaps
- Comparison of Consumer Perceptions and Behaviour
- Consumer Research on Forecasted Innovation and Technology
- Consumer Engagement Working Group
- Best Practices for Consumer Engagement
- Consumer Engagement Plan
- Consumer Acceptance of Forecasted Innovation and Technology
- Benchmarking Assurance Systems (paused until completion of National Index on Agri-Food Performance)
- Advancing Assurance Systems (paused until completion of National Index on Agri-Food Performance)
Meeting highlights
June 27, 2024
- The table positively received an overview of its first completed initiative from its strategic plan—Best Practices for Consumer Engagement on Agriculture and Agri-Food.
- This web-based tool outlines how to use effective techniques—such as connecting on shared values, storytelling, and applying risk communication principles—to build public trust in any communication format.
- The next step involves distributing the tool broadly among the sector.
- At its in-person meeting on December 3, 2024, the table will update its strategic plan.
October 19, 2023
- Members reviewed the medium-term consumer trends and the impact for the sector and identified potential areas for further study including: the connections between local, organic, and environmental sustainability; demographics around plant-based protein; communications on packaging; food affordability and price; and consumer confusion around assurance systems related to sustainability and other attributes.
- The Consumer Research Working Group has continued working on an online consumer research library and table members provided detailed input toward AAFC’s next consumer survey.
- The Consumer Engagement Working Group has continued efforts to secure funding to carry out its best practices for consumer engagement initiative and has continued planning its consumer engagement plan initiative.
- Members provided feedback on the proposed federal measures to reduce and manage plastic packaging in relation to the key consumer trend around sustainability.
May 31, 2023
- Members agreed to apply for funding to develop a web-based resource describing the best practices for consumer engagement.
- Members will continue exploring existing solutions for creating a consumer research library rather than funding a new one.
March 9, 2023
- Members will determine the feasibility of using AgEcon Search (a free, web-based agricultural economics library) as a consumer research library rather than creating a new one, including approaches to addressing gaps in its current search records and building the sector's awareness of this existing resource.
- Members will finalize the description of its best practices for consumer engagement initiative, including explore funding mechanisms to enable related decisions at a future meeting.
- The sector provided feedback on Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) activities, such as: Canada Brand, Taste the Commitment, and the broader AgriCommunications Initiative.
Members
Co-chairs
- Clinton Monchuk, Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan
- Justine Akman, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
Sector
- Alain Brandon, Loblaw Companies
- Andrew Lively, Ocean Perfect
- To be named, Nuu-cha-nulth Seafood
- Anthony O'Neill, Canadian Nursery Landscape Association
- Barry Sneft, Seeds Canada
- Christina Turi, Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada
- Don Holdsworth, Clearwater Seafoods
- Erin O'Hara, CropLife Canada
- Jerry Bos, Boscenic Farms
- JJ Hochrein, Chicken Farmers of Canada
- Lisa Bishop-Spencer, Canadian Centre for Food Integrity
- Meaghan Seagrave, BioIndustrial Innovation Canada
- Ryder Lee, Canadian Cattle Association
- Shelley Revering, Federated Cooperatives Limited
- Stuart Smyth, University of Saskatchewan
- Sue Lewis, Canadian Produce Marketing Association
- Tenesha Lawson, Canadian Canola Growers Association
- Tia Loftsgard, Canada Organic Trade Association
- Tim Ludwig, Global Cold Chain Alliance
Federal government
- Cindy St-Germain, Statistics Canada
- Donald Boucher, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Jean-Pierre Contant, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Michelle Cooper, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Warren Goodlet, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Provincial government
- Nicole Lamers, Federal-Provincial-Territorial Public Trust Working Group
-
Field Crops
Table launched in May 2023
Mandate
To advance and strengthen the Canadian field crop sector’s competitive position domestically and internationally.
Strategic Plan key highlights
The Table identified three key themes:
Public / Private Research and Innovation Ecosystem
- Report on the roles and responsibilities in plant genetics to guide long-term direction of research activities
Market Maintenance and Growth (includes emergency response and management)
- Environmental Scan of trade barriers
- Market Advocacy Strategy
Strategic infrastructure Investment
- Report on critical transportation infrastructure for field crops
Meeting highlights
November 23, 2023
The strategic plan was finalized with three key themes and four initiatives (Strategic Plan key highlights)
Members also agreed to:
- interact with/review the prioritization of Agile Regulations Table work when appropriate to highlight regulatory priorities as the Field Crops Table;
- interact with/review the work of the Consumer Demand and Market Trends Consumer Engagement Working Group to ensure Field Crops consumer trust priorities and interests are reflected;
- as work proceeds, interact with/review the work of thematic tables to ensure coherence across themes.
October 11, 2023
- Members discussed and confirmed the mandate, identified strategic challenges and opportunities, forward looking goals, strategic themes and key results followed by discussions on some potential initiatives.
- The strategic plan for the Table was not finalized during the meeting. One or two additional sessions are likely needed to bring the strategic plan to a conclusion.
- The facilitator will provide a draft report summarizing the outcome of the meeting in preparation for the next meeting.
May 31, 2023
- AAFC provided an overview of the Sector Engagement Table model, key result areas and next steps for the new Field Crops Table.
- Members discussed the mandate and possible priority themes for this Table.
- Members agreed that a one-day in-person strategic planning session will be held to identify priorities and action plans. Preparation for this session is underway.
Members
Co-chairs
- Dean Dias, Cereals Canada
- Pascale Boulerice, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Sector
- Adam Dyck, Warburton Foods Ltd. (Canada)
- Angela Bedard-Haughn, University of Saskatchewan
- Barry Senft, Seeds Canada
- Brian Innes, Soy Canada
- Chris Davison, Canola Council of Canada
- Clarence Shwaluk, Fresh Hemp Foods, Ltd
- Crosby Devitt, Grain Farmers of Ontario
- Curtis Pozniak, University of Saskatchewan
- Doug Miller, Canadian Seed Growers’ Association
- Greg Northey, Pulse Canada
- Erin Gowriluk, Canada Grains Council
- Ian Affleck, CropLife Canada
- Jean Marc Ruest, Richardson International
- Jennifer Marchand, Cargill
- Jenneth Johanson, Prairie Oat Growers Association
- Keith Jones, Rowland Farms
- Kyle Larkin, Grain Growers of Canada
- Olivier Lavigne-Lacroix, Canadian National Millers Association
- Pam de Rocquigny, Manitoba Crop Alliance
- Rene Van Acker, University of Guelph
- To be determined, Flax Council of Canada
- Rick White, Canadian Canola Growers Association
Federal government
- Doug Chorney, Canadian Grain Commission
- Eric Liu, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Henry de Gooijer, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Michel-Antoine Renaud, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Robin Churchill, Health Canada
- Terri Gabbatt, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Provincial government
- Deanna Nemeth, Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs
- To be determined, Government of Saskatchewan
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Food Manufacturers
Table was launched in September 2023
Mandate
The Food Manufacturers Engagement Table (FMET) will provide a forum for government and the food manufacturing industry to:
- understand the challenges and opportunities facing the industry as well as the state of the business environment in Canada,
- undertake research to better understand issues impacting the industry’s competitiveness, and
- develop industry-government actions to improve the competitiveness, profitability and growth of the industry
Meeting highlights
March 26, 2024
- The second FMET meeting was held in person in Ottawa on March 26, 2024.
- The meeting focused on discussions regarding priority issues including forced labour in Canadian supply chains legislation, grocery code of conduct, labour, plastic packaging reduction initiatives and innovation.
September 7, 2023
- The meeting provided an opportunity for member introductions as well as confirm FMET priorities.
- The labour and sustainability priorities were presented and discussed, in particular, introduction of the Recognized Employer Pilot provisions and pending plastic packaging regulations, and a commitment to discuss the Grocery Code of Conduct at the next meeting.
Members
Sector
- Anthony Fantin, Vegpro International Inc.
- Carol Gardin, Maple Lodge Farms Ltd.
- Claire Bara, A. Lassonde Inc.
- Dan Paszkowski, Wine Growers Canada
- David Anyanwu, Cargill Limited
- David Pigott, Morrison Lamothe & Club Coffee Company
- Denise Allen, Food Producers of Canada
- Dennis Prouse, Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada
- Dominique Bohec, Boulangerie Humanité Inc.
- Faisal Esmail, BCI Foods Inc
- Gabrielle Fallu, Exceldor Cooperative
- Irv Teper, Concord Premium Meats Ltd.
- Joe Makowecki, Heritage Frozen Foods Ltd.
- Kathleen Sullivan, Maple Leaf Foods Inc.
- Kelsie Milbury, PepsiCo Foods and Beverages Canada
- Kerry Towle, Sofina Foods Inc.
- Krista Scaldwell, Canadian Beverage Association
- Kristina Farrell, Food and Beverage Canada
- Martin Barnett, Baking Association of Canada
- Martin Le Moine, Fruit d’Or Inc.
- Mathieu Frigon, Dairy Processors Association of Canada
- Maxim Legault-Mayrand, Danone Canada
- Nik Zylstra, Further Poultry Processors Association of Canada
- Olivier Lavigne-Lacroix, Canadian National Millers Association
- Paul Lansbergen, Fisheries Council of Canada
- Robert Eiser, Aliments LUDA Foods Inc.
- Sandra Marsden, Canadian Sugar Institute
- Stephanie Cass, Ferrero Canada Ltd.
- Teresa Schoonings, Bimbo Canada
- Tim Sinclair, Sher Produce Technologies
Federal government
- Adriana Zeleney, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Donald Boucher, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Joann Perron, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Melissa Kardaras, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Shane Campbell, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Warren Gould, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
-
Horticulture
Table launched in November 2022
Mandate
To advance and strengthen the competitiveness for the horticulture sector, including the edible and ornamental sub-sectors.
Strategic plan key highlights
The table identified the following initiatives across four key themes:
- Labour
- Contribute towards the Temporary Foreign Worker Program consultation while another characterizes the sector’s future labour needs
- Conduct an environmental scan of labour reports while another involves re-release a report on labour-saving technologies
- Crop Protection
- Identify any issue gaps to be filled by this table
- Maintain access to products by: helping prioritize product re-evaluations and potential product de-registrations undertaken at an arms’-length by a regulator; expanding AAFC’s Minor Use Program and Risk Reduction Program; and creating a level playing field for domestic and imported products
- Promote innovative products and integrated pest management while another focuses on biosecurity
- Sustainability and Climate Change Adaptation
- Five initiatives follow a continuum from identifying a climate change impact to developing and implementing feasible solutions.
- Seek strategies to address climatic events while another collects baseline data to measure success.
- Research and Innovation
- Increasing access to funding to carry out research and knowledge and technology transfer, including recommendations for the design of government funding programs
- Disseminate research broadly
Meeting highlights
April 30, 2024
- The table confirmed its strategic plan to include the following themes:
- Labour
- Crop protection
- Sustainability and Climate Change Adaptation
- Research and Innovation
- For each theme, a desired outcome(s) and initiatives were confirmed as discussed during strategic planning sessions held on December 5, 2023 (virtual) and February 27, 2024 (in-person)
- Next steps involve establishing working groups for each of the themes; along with a steering committee to help guide the overall efforts of the table
Members
Co-chairs
- Rod Scarlett, Canadian Honey Council
- Sankaran KrishnaRaj, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Sector
- Adrian Reimer, Reimers’ Nursery
- Alison Robertson, Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada/Ontario Fruits and Vegetable Growers Association
- Andrew Morse, Flowers Canada Grower
- Angela Reid, Fruit and Vegetables Growers of Canada
- Anthony O'Neill, Canadian Nursery Landscape Association
- Christene LeVatte, Highland Landscapes
- Hans Buchler, Canadian Grapevine Certification Network
- Keith Robbins, Ontario Processing Vegetable Growers
- Linda Della Santi, British Columbia Greenhouse Growers Association
- Luce Daigneault, Québec Vert
- Marlene Huntley, Horticulture Nova Scotia
- Nick Winkelmolen, Winkelmolen Nurseries
- Nicole De Long, Vineland Research and Innovation Centre
- Patrice Léger Bourgoin, Association des Producteurs Maraîchers du QC
- Paul Enwerekowe, CropLife Canada
- Phil Paxton, Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Alliance
- Richard Lee, Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers
- Ron Lemaire, Canadian Produce Marketing Association
- Ryan Koeslag, Mushrooms Canada
- Steve Lamoure, Conagra Brands (Dresden)
- Victor Santacruz, Canadian Nursery Landscape Association
Federal government
- Amanda Whitfield, Health Canada
- Jennifer Ballantine, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Nicole Howe, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Rachid El Hafid, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Shirley Liang, Global Affairs Canada
Provincial government
- Jeff Wentzell, Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture
- Jennifer Whalen, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
- Yvon Forest, Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec
- Labour
-
Seafood
Table launched in January 2024
Mandate
To grow the market and enhance public trust in the Canadian seafood sector.
Meeting highlights
May 1, 2024
- This meeting focused on finalizing the strategic plan, and confirming a mandate statement.
- Members agreed on three priority themes:
- Labour
- Public Trust
- Innovation and Market Growth
- The next meeting will take place in Fall 2024.
March 21, 2024
- This meeting focused on the development of the Seafood Table strategic plan by identifying and exploring common themes for the sector.
- A proposed mandate statement was put forth for consideration, which was refined by members.
- The next meeting will be in a virtual format in April/May 2024, to complete and validate the strategic plan.
January 12, 2024
- The first meeting of the Seafood Table was held on January 12, 2024 (virtually).
- This meeting concentrated on introducing members; reviewing the Sector Engagement Table model; starting a discussion on possible priority areas for the Table to focus; and preparing for the strategic planning session (tentatively March 2024).
Members
Co-chairs
- Alastair O'Rielly, Northern Coalition Corporation
- Alec Nicholls, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Sector
- Chris Curran, Ocean Choice International
- Christina Burridge, BC Seafood Alliance
- Christine Gérard, Metro Inc.
- Christine Penney, Clearwater Seafoods
- Darrell Roche, Whitecap International Seafood Exporters
- David Lomas, Clover Leaf Seafoods Corp.
- Doug Hotson, Saphire Springs Arctic Char
- Geoff Irvine, Lobster Council of Canada
- Ian McIsaac, Seafood Producers Association of Nova Scotia
- Jeff Loder, Association of Seafood Producers
- Jennifer Green Sheppard, Green Seafoods Ltd.
- Jennifer Woodland, Grieg Seafood
- Jerry Bidgood, Prince Edward Aqua Farms Inc.
- Joanne Gibbons, Royal Greenland
- Joel Richarson, True North Seafood Co. (Cooke Aquaculture)
- John Nishidate, Grand Hale Marine Products Co. Ltd.
- John Omstead, John O Foods Inc.
- Karl Sullivan, The Barry Group
- Kerry Cunningham, Sea Star Seafoods Ltd.
- Keith Hutchings, Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation
- Marius Linstead, Labrador Fishermen's Union Shrimp Co Ltd
- Michel Paradis, Association Québécoise de l’Industrie de la Pêche
- Nat Richard, Lobster Processors Association
- Paul Edgett, Canadian Fishing Company
- Paul Lansbergen, Fisheries Council of Canada
- Susan Cole, Cole-Munro Seafood
- Tim Kennedy, Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance
- Tony Wright, Makivik Corportation
Federal government
- Darcy Demarsico, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Provincial government
- Emilie Surette, Government of Nova Scotia
- Sean Barry, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
-
Skills Development
Table was launched in July 2021
The mandate of this Table applies to all players in the system, including but not limited to:
- primary agriculture
- food and beverage processing
- input and service suppliers (for example, agriculture equipment manufacturing)
Mandate
- Gain a shared understanding as to skills requirements in relation to chronic job vacancies as well as priorities for future skills, including building on advancements in technology.
- Identify potential career paths connecting jobs to alternative training/careers.
- Identify new, innovative and flexible training options, to educate and train, to re-skill and upskill the workforce.
- Support renewal by identifying opportunities for young and new entrants, to develop a more diverse work force with greater participation of youth, new Canadians, Indigenous peoples and other under-represented groups.
Strategic plan key highlights
The Table identified four key themes:
- Career pathways
- Create a resource hub.
- Identify the various careers in the agriculture, agri-food and food and beverage processing sector and develop resource lists to provide guidance on career pathways for new-entrants.
- Understanding of skills required
- Awareness and opportunity - build upon the work of the two sector councils (Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council, Food Processing Skills Canada) to leverage their work and build upon gaps.
- Determine what skills can be learned on the job, what can be learned in post secondary institutions and in other training institutions.
- New innovative and flexible training options
- Review of current training initiatives to see if they are adequately training for various jobs in the industry. Based on these reviews, work with industry partners to ensure training opportunities are providing the skills required.
- National training plan.
- Youth, new entrants and underrepresented
- Listening and lowering barriers - identifying underrepresented groups where there is an opportunity to increase participation in the agriculture, agri-food and food and beverage processing industry, identify barriers and strategies to help lower the barriers.
- Baseline data to measure progress - Data collection on new entrants to the agriculture, agri-food and processing sector and educational programs to determine rate of members of under-represented groups.
Meeting highlights
May 15, 2024
- The twelfth meeting of the Skills Development Table was held virtually on May 15, 2024.
- AAFC will organize a meeting with working group co-chairs of the Seafood, and Animal Protein Working Groups and the Crop Protection Working Group of the and Horticulture Tables with representatives from the Skills Development Table to discuss synergies and areas of collaboration on labour/skills.
- Members endorsed the proposal put forward by the Career Pathways Working Group to launch a new online resource hub to be located on the Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) website.
- The Youth, New Entrants and Underrepresented Groups Working Group was officially launched. The proposed membership list will be reviewed and will start with the ‘new entrants’ lens for the full agriculture and agri-food sector. Next meeting will be held virtually on October 8, 2024, followed by in-person on January, 15, 2025.
December 13, 2023
- The 11th meeting of the Skills Development Table was held in an in-person/hybrid format on December 13, 2023.
- AAFC provided an update of the Sector Engagement Table model, which included a summary of activities of recent meetings held of the Canadian Agriculture Youth Council, Agile Regulations Table, Horticulture Table, Field Crops Table, Consumer Demand and Market Trends Table, and the Leadership Table.
- The Co-Chairs from the Career Pathways Working Group provided an update on activities and AAFC provided a brief summary on the work that they are doing to prepare to launch a working group under the youth, new entrants and underrepresented groups pillar of the strategic plan.
- The Table received a presentation from the Job Bank in an effort to better understand the Job Bank's functionality and to explore opportunities on how to use it to raise awareness of careers in the agriculture and agri-food sector. Possible next steps would be to explore at how Employment Social Development Canada and AAFC could work to advance some work regarding the resources hub.
- The Career Pathways Working Group has done a lot of work toward a resource hub and, during the meeting, breakout group discussions were held to seek feedback from members on the structure and design of a hub and on the gaps in information gathered to date. The working group will look at the gathered information and will be used it to determine next steps for the hub.
- A panel discussion on microcredentials in which the Province of British Columbia presented on their micro credential framework; Canadian Seed Growers Association on their CSGA Learn platform; and Food Processing Skills Canada on their learning and recognition framework. The information learned during this panel discussion will be brought back to the Career Pathways Working Group as they determine a path forward for this topic.
- Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) provided information on their Accelerated Growth Service that helps Canadian businesses figure out which government services are available that could benefit them.
- The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) and AAFC updated members on the progress of their respective labour strategies - National Workforce Strategic Plan for Agriculture and Food and Beverage Manufacturing and the Agricultural Labour Strategy. CAHRC and AAFC will report back on progress at the next meeting.
September 26, 2023
- The 10th meeting of the Skills Development Table was held virtually on September 26, 2023.
- AAFC mentioned that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program has now launched the Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) for employers in primary agriculture.
- AAFC provided a brief update on SET activities since the last meeting and plans going forward.
- The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council updated members on their Action Symposium and a conducted Ipsos online surveys on Perceptions of the Agriculture Industry.
- Members received a presentation made by a table member from the Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture on Micro credentials.
- Next meeting will be held in-person on December 13, 2023.
Members
Co-chairs
- Joanne Allen, J I Allen and Associates
- Nathalie Gour, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
Sector
- Andrea Lear, Canadian Agricultural Safety Association
- Angela Reid, The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada
- Ben Cecil, Olds College Smart Farm
- Donna Boyd, Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada
- Erin Doherty, University of Guelph-OAC
- Heather Watson, Farm Management Canada
- Kalysha Hanrahan, Agriculture in the Classroom Canada
- Kristina Farrell, Food and Beverage Canada
- Keith Warriner, University of Guelph
- Kevin Elder, Food Processing Skills Canada
- Lauren Martin, Canadian Meat Council
- Laurie Loane, Prince Edward Island - Agriculture Sector Council
- Leslie Noble, 4-H Canada
- Martin Scanlon, Deans Council - Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences
- Roxanne Wright, Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council
- Sara Dent, Young Agrarians
- Sara Kate Smith, University of British Columbia
- Scott Ross, Canadian Federation of Agriculture
- Tracy Kittleson, Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture
Federal government
- Darlene McBain, Farm Credit Canada
Provincial government
- Scott Duff, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
-
Sustainability
Table launched in December 2020
The work of this table has paused and will resume when the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy has been implemented.
Mandate
On matters related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity, soil health, food waste, plastics, and water quality and quantity, the Sustainability Sector Engagement Table, in collaboration with government and other stakeholders, will:
- facilitate the development and adoption of education tools to increase awareness and understanding across the supply chain on emerging/priority issues, and improve communication between Government, producers, supply chain stakeholders and consumers in order to drive increased adoption of beneficial practices.
- champion the development and use of measurement tools and metrics to inform priority actions (for example, research), and monitor and report on environmental performance across Canada’s agriculture and food system.
- enhance government and stakeholder collaboration on environmental/economic policies related to identifying trade-offs and synergies, and support adoption of beneficial management practices and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Strategic Plan key highlights
Three themes emerged as key result areas on which the table will focus. Each of these themes has several initiatives that are in the process of being developed into work plans (through working groups):
- Policy Coherence
- Measurement
- Information and Education (members noted their awareness of a significant amount of activity in this area, table mandate ensures no overlap)
Meeting highlights
November 23, 2022
- Presentations were made on progress to-date of the working groups that align directly with the Sustainability Table priorities.
- Members took part in a facilitated consultation session on Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Green Agriculture Plan (now called Sustainable Agriculture Strategy (SAS).
- Members have been focused on providing input to the SAS Since the November 23 meeting. Working group activity will resume after the focus subsides on the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy.
November 17 and December 15, 2021, March 18, 2022
- The strategic plan was being developed during these meetings.
Members
Co-chairs
- To be determined
- Sophie Beecher, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Sector
- Aimee Rae, Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance
- Alice Feuillet, Equiterre
- Andrew Hammermeister, Dalhousie University
- Angela Reid, Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada
- Blaine McLeod, Dairy Farmers of Canada
- Carmen Wakeling, Organic BC
- Carolyn Callaghan, Canadian Wildlife Federation
- Cher Mereweather, Provision Coalition
- Chris Anderson, Protein Industries Canada
- Dean Dias, Cereals Canada
- Denise Dewar, Canada Grains Council
- Ghalia Chahine, L'union des producteurs agricoles
- Jeffrey Fitzpatrick, Cargill
- Jennifer Lambert, Loblaws
- Katerina Kolemishevska, Canadian Pork Council
- Larry Thomas, Canadian Cattle Association
- Mauricio Alanis, Maple Leaf
- Meghan Seagrave, BioNB
- Monica Hadarits, Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef
- Paul Thoroughgood, Ducks Unlimited Canada
- Paul Watson, McCain Foods
- Susie Miller, Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Crops
Federal government
- Darlene McBain, Farm Credit Canada
- Susan Martin, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Provincial government
- to be determined
Other forums within the SET model
- Canadian Agricultural Youth Council (launched July 2020)
- Food Policy Advisory Committee (launched February 2021)
Contact us
Industry Engagement Division
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
1341 Baseline Road, Tower 5, 4th Floor
Ottawa Ontario K1A 0C5
Telephone: 613-759-2115
Email: aafc.roundtable-tableronde.aac@agr.gc.ca