Sector Engagement Tables

The Sector Engagement Tables (SETs) create purposeful dialogue between agriculture and agri-food sector representatives and government officials to collectively advance growth and competitiveness in Canada.

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.

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

  December 11, 2024 — In person

  • Representatives from the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) provided insights into how their organization is enabling innovation through regulatory modernization, including improving guidance and pre-application support, collecting regulatory data to better understand emerging risks, how to improve the pre-market authorization process and networking with international agencies.
  • Health Canada provided details on a collaborative process where Health Canada and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) jointly conduct assessments to inform their respective regulatory decisions for foods derived from genetically modified (GM) plant events. The goal of this initiative is to improve the efficiency and harmonization of food safety assessments between agencies.
  • AAFC provided details on the regulatory experiment work that has been done to date. The ART supported efforts in regulatory experimentation to help identify solutions to existing challenges but also to assess and learn about the approach. Projects highlighted included an experiment to address Canada-specific regulatory data gaps for drone-based pesticide application, Journey Mapping to examine “Ready to Grow” meat companies in Ontario as part of broader effort to improve interprovincial trade in Canada and an experiment to facilitate industry collaboration to streamline regulatory pathways for novel fertilizers.
  • AAFC presented the results of the 1-on-1 interviews conducted with 9 sector groups and 2 companies, with a range of businesses and organizations, to better understand their experiences in interacting with government in a regulatory context and their views on potential avenues for improvement. Cumulative regulatory burden is one of the three key pillars identified in the ART strategic plan and an ART priority due to the value of Canada’s regulatory reputation internationally and the opportunities for innovation and modernization. The Regulatory Issues Working Group Co-Chairs presented their work to date. Building on an ART strategic plan commitment, the first draft of a regulatory issues list was prepared with input from both the sector and government. The list then underwent triage and prioritization to identify top issues for further discussion at ART. The list remains a work in progress and will be modified into a version that allows broader discussions with the sector.
  • Building on the cumulative regulatory burden and Regulatory Issues Working Group updates, a breakout session was held with ART members to better understand prioritized issues, including their impact and get members feedback on feasible actions the ART could undertake. ART members provided a lot of feedback which will be compiled and shared with the working group members first to discuss next steps with the goal of proposing actions to the ART meeting in the spring of 2025.
  • Members heard regulatory updates from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS).

  September 27, 2024 — Virtual

  • AAFC provided members with an update on ongoing work to address cumulative regulatory impact across Canada. The analysis presented ongoing efforts to address cumulative regulatory impact at the province/territory level and an analysis of official consultations impacting the agriculture and agri-food sector. The update outlined next steps to prepare an analysis of cumulative impact efforts across Canada and to engage directly with sector representatives to identify common themes, methodologies, gaps in measurement and analysis.
  • Transport Canada provided an overview of their Regulatory Platform which is under development and will be an Artificial Intelligence powered web-tool designed to organize and structure information about Canadian federal acts and regulations and generate data needed for regulatory management, analysis and assessing impacts on Canadians. The platform is expected to become available to federal regulators by Spring 2025.
  • ART members received a brief update on the activities of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Regulatory Issues Working Group. The objective of this working group is to triage and prioritize the list of regulatory issues using agreed-upon guiding principles and identify issues. Next steps will be to propose potential opportunities to the ART to advance in the short term (that is, 6 to 12 months).
  • The Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada (TBS) updated members on the Annual Regulatory Modernization Bill and mentioned that work is underway to support the advancement of Bill S-6 which was referred to the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology for consideration in late June 2024.
  • Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and the TBS provided verbal updates on regulatory modernization priorities since the April 19, 2024 meeting.
  • AAFC provided an update on Regulatory Experimentation efforts. AAFC mentioned that they have been actively working with regulators and sector representatives to explore initiatives in regulatory experimentation and sandboxes, with the aim of increasing efficiency within current resources and creating a more agile regulatory environment for novel products that have the potential to enhance the sustainability and productivity of the sector. Projects highlighted including the ongoing drone experiment, and recently approved projects in novel fertilizers and feeds with the CFIA.
  • The next ART meeting will be held in-person on December 11, 2024.

  April 19, 2024 — Virtual

  • 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.

  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
  • B. Pratyusha Chennupati. Atlantic Council
  • Bruce Hardy, Myera Group and Function Four Ltd
  • Catherine Filejski, Canadian Animal Health Institute
  • Christopher Marinangeli, Protein Industries Canada
  • Chloé Belchamber, Canadian Pork Council
  • 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
  • John Ross, Animal Health Canada
  • Jorge Correa, Canadian Meat Council
  • 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
  • Terri Stewart, Croplife
  • Tim Kennedy, Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance

  Federal government

  • Brett Maxwell, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
  • Evan Lewis, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
  • Evelyn Soo, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
  • Kimberley Zinck, Canadian Food Inspection Agency
  • 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

  • Marcia Hewitt-Fisher, Government of Alberta

• 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 4 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 — Virtual

  • 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 — Virtual

  • 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

• 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

  February 6, 2025 — Virtual
   

  Attendance: 22 out of 25 members and representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness; the Canadian Grain Commission; and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA)

  • AAFC Trade officials provided an update on the potential US tariffs and Canada’s response.
  • Canada remains ready to retaliate equally should the US place tariffs on Canadian exports to the US.
  • The sector is encouraged to continue raising issues (for example, supply chain integration across the border), and attending any future calls on the subject.
  • Table members had questions about AAFC programming (for example, AgriMarketing) where funding has been oversubscribed. AAFC is open to considering some flexibility in moving funding from an undersubscribed program to where it is needed.
  • Members also had questions regarding abilities of some organizations to be more successful in obtaining program funding than others.
  • Table members requested that the Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) pause its transformation agenda considering the new realities in the Canada-US Trading Relationship. A letter from industry representatives will be sent to Health Canada on this matter to illustrate importance within sector.

  October 9, 2024 — In person

  Attendance: 23 sector members and representatives from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Transport Canada

  • Co-chairs provided an overview of priority issues facing the field crops sector which include: recent labour challenges (rail and port), extended interswitching, activities of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Pesticide Working Group, trade facilitation, and challenges exporting to the Chinese market.
  • FCT Members received an update on the progress of the 3 working groups.
    • Analysis of public and private research and innovation activity and capacity is being undertaken in the Public-Private research and Innovation working group.
    • An examination of trade barriers and trade promotion activities (particularly with the US market) is being led by the Market Maintenance and Growth working group.
    • In regards to strategic infrastructure, working group members are also developing the scope for work on developing an evergreen infrastructure investment strategy.
  • Transport Canada provided an overview of the mandate and activities of their Supply Chain Office (SCO), including work to develop the supply chain strategy. Current activities include piloting solutions for loading grain in the rain at the Port of Vancouver. The SCO is seeking input from industry on supply chain issues and problems in the crop sector. This office is not intended to work independently and will collaborate with all relevant departments.
  • Table Members received a brief update on the activities of the current departmental science strategy and the priorities for the Department. Industry representatives expressed an interest for the strategy to have a stronger focus on productivity and commercialization.
  • A presentation was made regarding the progress of work to date by the Deans Council on Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Medicine on its AGris initiative – a comprehensive study of Canada’s agri-food research ecosystem, which is being done in partnership with the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and other national agri-food commodity organizations. The outcomes of this project, expected to be completed in 2024, will be leveraged by the Public/Private Research and Innovation Working Group ecosystem project.
  • Table members participated in a breakout session that yielded input into an evergreen compendium of market access barriers, trade promotion activities, and context around the upcoming Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) review.
  • Participants were able to learn more about, and engage with departmental trade policy executives regarding priority trade issues, including the anti-dumping investigation on Canadian Canola.
  • AAFC provided an update on work underway within other Sector Engagement Tables. Areas of major activity include regulations, technology and labour.
  • Table members received an in-depth presentation on the activities of the Agile Regulations Table (ART). Most of the questions from the sector focused on the Regulatory Issues Working Group of the ART and its next steps.

  November 23, 2023 — Virtual

  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.

  Members

  Co-chairs

  • Dean Dias, Cereals Canada
  • Pascale Boulerice, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

  Sector

  • 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
  • Gayle McLaughlin, Canadian Canola 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
  • John Cranfield, University of Guelph
  • Keanan Stone, Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance
  • Kyle Larkin, Grain Growers of Canada
  • Olivier Lavigne-Lacroix, Canadian National Millers Association
  • Pam de Rocquigny, Manitoba Crop Alliance

  Federal government

  • David Hunt, Canadian Grain Commission
  • Henry de Gooijer, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
  • Scott Duguid, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
  • 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

• 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 — In person

  • 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 4 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

• Seafood

  Table launched in January 2024

  Mandate

  To grow the market and enhance public trust in the Canadian seafood sector.

  Meeting highlights

  January 23, 2025

  • The meeting focused on trade and potential tariff-related issues impacting the fish and seafood sector.
  • An overview of the major Free Trade Agreements in force and the current trade negotiations were highlighted.
  • Sector members participated in breakout groups to discuss how they would respond in the event of tariffs. The outcomes varied depending on species, geographical region, and size of the company.

  May 1, 2024 — Virtual

  • This meeting focused on finalizing the strategic plan, and confirming a mandate statement.
  • Members agreed on 3 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.

  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
  • Colin McMillan, Canadian Fishing Company
  • 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
  • Kate Docking, Fisheries Council of Canada
  • Kerry Cunningham, Sea Star Seafoods Ltd.
  • Keith Hutchings, Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation
  • Marius Linstead, Labrador Fishermen's Union Shrimp Co Ltd
  • Nat Richard, Lobster Processors Association
  • Serge Fortin, Association Québécoise de l’Industrie de la Pèche
  • 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
  • Kaley MacDonald Butler, Government of Prince Edward Island
  • 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 4 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

  January 15, 2025 — In person

  Attendance: 17 sector members and representatives from: Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC); Natural Resources Canada; Government of Saskatchewan; Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA); and Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ).

  • Government co-chair provided information on the prorogation of Parliament, the 2004 Fall Economic Statement and highlighted that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced that it is capping the intake for permanent residence applications under the Agri-Food Pilot at 1,010 spaces. The application cap has now been reached so the pilot is now closed.
  • Natural Resources Canada: presented key elements of the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act and highlighted what potential beneficial opportunities for a sustainable agriculture sector.
  • ESDC: provided updates on Job Bank tools, including: Labour Market Information; School to Work Transition, Sectoral Profile, Career Planning (Training finder).
  • Food Processing Skills Canada (FPSC) and the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC): summarized the current landscape of skills required for careers in the sector and used this as a launching point for a breakout discussion on skills required to support existing and future jobs in the agriculture and food processing sectors, and how to action these needs.
  • Panel discussion on succession planning: including the role of succession planning in increasing resilience and representation in the agriculture sector. Panel featured experts who discussed farm transition planning and shared insights on gaps and opportunities to support farm transition through a skills development lens.
  • Youth, New Entrants and Underrepresented Groups Working Group: co-chaired reviewed activities to date including members’ participation in a consultation session on the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act Program. Next steps will be to determine potential areas of interest to explore and collect information from members and various sources.
  • Career Pathways Working Group: presented the web mock-up and highlighted the objectives of the page, intended audience, challenges encountered and outlined next steps.

  October 8, 2024 — Virtual

  • AAFC reviewed the Skills Development Table (SDT) strategic plan and walked the members through the activities to date.
  • AAFC provided an update on the Career Pathways Working Group as the work continues on the resource hub to be located on the Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) website.
  • The Industry co-chair of the Youth, New Entrants and Underrepresented Groups working group mentioned that they are working on finalizing the membership and that the first meeting will be held by the end of October. The proposed workplan for the working group will focus on new entrants to the sector with an added focus on youth, women, and other underrepresented and marginalized groups (URMGs).
  • Future Skills Centre (FSC) presented the conclusions of their recently published study titled “Skills and Productivity – which skills shortages are impacting productivity”. FSC focuses on strengthening Canada’s skills development ecosystem so that Canadians can look to a future of meaningful and relevant lifelong learning opportunities.
  • The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) updated members on their National Workforce Strategic Plan for Agriculture and Food and Beverage Manufacturing and the Agricultural Labour Strategy. The focus now for all working groups is to continue to move forward on the updated priorities, knowledge mobilization, continued collaboration and securing funding.
  • Next meeting will be held in-person January 15, 2025.

  May 15, 2024 — Virtual

  • 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.

  Members

  Co-chairs

  • Joanne Allen, J I Allen and Associates
  • Nathalie Gour, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada

  Sector

  • Angela Reid, The Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada
  • Christa Wright, Farm Management Canada
  • Dean Anderson, Canadian Agricultural Safety Association
  • Donna Boyd, Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada
  • Dorthea Gregoire, Canadian Organic Growers
  • Jennifer Wright, Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council
  • 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
  • Paul Burnham, Burnham Family Farm Market
  • Sara Dent, Young Agrarians
  • Sara Kate Smith, Clear Strategy
  • Scott Ross, Canadian Federation of Agriculture
  • Todd Ormann, Olds College Smart Farm
  • Tracy Kittilsen, Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture

  Federal government

  • Darlene McBain, Farm Credit Canada
  • Lidia Di Biase, Employment and Social Development Canada

  Provincial government

  • Karl Maiterth, 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