2025–2026 Departmental Plan: Gender-based analysis plus

Section 1: Institutional GBA Plus capacity

Governance

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's (AAFC) approach to ensure that Gender-Based Analysis (GBA) Plus is integrated into departmental governance and decision-making processes during the 2025–26 fiscal year includes the following.

Departmental Policy Statement on GBA Plus

AAFC's GBA Plus policy statement is included in the department's GBA Plus Policy, which includes commitments to GBA Plus and intersectional considerations. The policy also outlines the roles and responsibilities of all AAFC employees to apply GBA Plus to their work. The policy statement reads as follows:

"Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC) is committed to applying gender-based analysis plus (GBA Plus) as an analytical tool to consider the experiences and needs of diverse communities in all that we do and at every stage of" the development of policies, programs, services, legislation, regulations and research (that is, from concept to proposal to implementation to reporting to evaluation). AAFC is committed to evidence-based decision-making that promotes equitable and inclusive outcomes for Canadians and diverse groups within the sector, including those that are underrepresented or marginalized, allowing for the fullest participation possible.

Through the application and integration of GBA Plus, AAFC will ensure that the principles of diversity, equity and inclusiveness are also applied, and will strive to harness the value and strength of Canada's diversity within the agriculture and agri-food system."

GBA Plus Champion

The Assistant Deputy Minister of the Strategic Policy Branch is the department's GBA Plus Champion and provides leadership and coordination for the promotion, implementation, and monitoring of GBA Plus in the development of effective policies, programs and legislation.

GBA Plus Responsibility Centre

The Sector Diversity Policy team in the Strategic Policy Branch houses the department's GBA Plus Responsibility Centre and GBA Plus Focal Points. This team provides guidance and builds capacity across the portfolio on the application of GBA Plus within the department, acts as a challenge function to ensure robust analyses, and contributes to departmental planning and reporting on GBA Plus. In their work, they ensure key GBA Plus considerations are reflected throughout the policy and program development cycle. Additionally, the Responsibility Centre represents the department in GBA Plus collaboration with other government departments, including Women and Gender Equality Canada.

Development of GBA Plus Data Collection and Reporting Plans

The AAFC Treasury Board Submissions and Costing Division oversees the Treasury Board submission process and works with the GBA Plus Responsibility Centre, proposal leads, and the Managing for Results Division to ensure the completion of GBA Plus Data Collection and Reporting Plans and to assess the impact of proposed policies and programs on underrepresented and marginalized groups.

GBA Plus Data and Analysis Working Group

This intradepartmental working group engages analysts across the department on GBA Plus to enhance the data capacity and application for GBA Plus within the department. Through the efforts of the working group, a series of intersectional data profiles on underrepresented and marginalized groups is maintained and promoted among staff. These profiles serve as a key tool for GBA Plus assessments and knowledge-sharing. This data also strengthens AAFC's analysis of how and to what extent its initiatives impact diverse groups across the value chain. Ongoing collaborative efforts within the department and with Statistics Canada expand the range of gender and diversity-disaggregated data available to support GBA Plus. This includes reviewing the AAFC-funded data projects as part of the renewal of the five-year AAFC-Statistics Canada Memorandum of Understanding (2024–29). This collaboration also features ongoing data innovation and sharing of expertise between the 2 organizations, including the use of Statistics Canada's Business Linkable File Environment for detailed GBA Plus analysis of the state of the sector, as well as program impact.

GBA Plus Network of Advisors

The Network of Advisors, consisting of members from across AAFC, functions as a collaborative body that advances the incorporation of robust GBA Plus within policy and program development, GBA Plus training and tools for analysts, considerations for underrepresented and marginalized groups in engagement activities, and supports the identification of data needs for GBA Plus assessments. Members act as GBA Plus contact points for their respective branches to guide the development of GBA Plus assessments early in the proposal process.

Senior management

Directors General, Assistant Deputy Ministers, and the Deputy Minister are responsible for approving GBA Plus content included in Memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board submissions and budget proposals. Senior management supports the mainstreaming of GBA Plus considerations within departmental advice and briefing materials across all of AAFC's business lines.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's mandatory GBA Plus submission processes

A GBA Plus assessment template serves as a mandatory element in the development of policy, program, and initiative proposals (such as Memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board submissions and budget proposals). It also provides a framework to guide analysts in the consideration of possible diversity impacts related to proposed measures and the identification of mitigation strategies to ensure all policies, programs and initiatives are as effective as possible.

Capacity

Initiatives to advance AAFC's GBA Plus capacity during 2025–26 include the following.

Dedicated resources to support GBA Plus

The department's Sector Diversity Policy team enhances capacity and focusses efforts to advance GBA Plus and support underrepresented and marginalized groups in the sector. In 2025–26, the department's GBA Plus Responsibility Centre will continue to advance key initiatives, including mainstreaming GBA Plus across the department, developing tools and resources to support GBA Plus and continuing the development of the action plan to support the Framework for Supporting Underrepresented and Marginalized Groups in the Sector.

Recommended training

Completion of Women and Gender Equality Canada's GBA Plus online course is recommended to all employees, including subject matter experts who lead the development of, for instance, Memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board submissions and budget proposals. Ongoing promotion of, and participation in, skills-building activities also occur throughout the year, including training related to GBA Plus capacity enhancement and a GBA Plus boot camp.

Established GBA Plus guidance

In addition to the established guidance provided through the GBA Plus Responsibility Centre to assist staff in developing GBA Plus analysis, a departmental resource hub serves as a central location for the entire department, providing GBA Plus tools and resources.

A framework to support underrepresented and marginalized groups in the agriculture and agri-food sector

AAFC's Framework to Support Underrepresented and Marginalized Groups in the Agriculture and Agri-Food Sector supports the identification of barriers and establishes goals and objectives that guide efforts to enhance the accessibility and equity of AAFC services and initiatives.

Mainstreaming GBA Plus considerations across AAFC activities

The GBA Plus Responsibility Centre collaborates with all AAFC branches to identify internal mechanisms to embed GBA Plus considerations into a broad range of day-to-day processes and departmental initiatives at all levels. A decision tree and toolkit support AAFC employees in integrating GBA Plus as a common and regular practice outside of mandatory processes.

Sector engagement tables

Diverse representation is an important consideration in the composition of all Sector Engagement Tables (SETs) and councils to support the inclusion of a diversity of perspectives in advice, recommendations and initiatives. AAFC will continue exploring ways to increase representation, aiming for gender parity and a 30% presence of underrepresented and marginalized groups, aligning with the Government of Canada's 50–30 Challenge.

The department continues to explore opportunities to leverage existing fora to hear perspectives from women in the agri-food system on Government of Canada policies, programs and initiatives, helping to better understand the challenges and opportunities they face. Additionally, the department under the SETs will continue its support for the stakeholder working group, focusing on reducing barriers for new entrants to the sector, including those faced by underrepresented and marginalized groups. It is also working toward launching a SET to engage directly with Indigenous Peoples on agriculture and agri-food policy and program development, addressing their unique challenges and opportunities.

The SET structure also includes the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council as a consultative body to ensure the perspectives of youth in agriculture are well understood and directly inform policy, programs, planning and decision-making for the agriculture and agri-food sector. The council also fosters connections with international youth through their participation in the World Food Forum, as well as other federal and regional youth councils and organizations, lending their support to a wide range of initiatives to advance the status and interests of youth in the sector.

Advancing reconciliation

Reconciliation is an ongoing process through which Indigenous Peoples and the Crown work co-operatively to establish and maintain a mutually respectful framework for living together, with a view to fostering strong, healthy and sustainable Indigenous Nations within a strong Canada. The passage of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and the 2023-28 Action Plan ensures that departments take action and consult and co-operate with Indigenous Peoples to align legislation and regulations with the UN Declaration. AAFC, through the Indigenous Policy Framework, contributes to reconciliation by advancing of Indigenous-led participation in agriculture and food systems, increasing Indigenous representation and enhancing capacity within the department. Ongoing efforts to advance reconciliation also include designing inclusive policies and programs and fostering relationships with Indigenous partners.

Human resources (full-time equivalents) dedicated to GBA Plus

AAFC is expected to have 8 full-time equivalents (FTEs) dedicated to working on GBA Plus within the department during the 2025–26 fiscal year. This includes employees working in the GBA Plus Responsibility Centre within the Strategic Policy Branch (3.5 FTEs); employees dedicated to working on GBA Plus in other divisions, including on data and program support (4 FTEs); and resources at the management level related to the GBA Plus Champion position and GBA Plus decision-making functions (0.5 FTEs).

Section 2: Gender and diversity impacts by program

In this section

Internal Services

Core Responsibility: Domestic and International Markets

Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency

The Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) is a special operating agency of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada responsible for supervising pari-mutuel betting on horse racing in Canada. Its mandate is to ensure betting is conducted fairly and in compliance with the Criminal Code and the Pari-Mutuel Betting Supervision Regulations. GBA Plus considerations are applied to understand the program's reach, including regional impacts.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency

The CPMA does not collect gender and/or diversity data. Its mandate is solely to establish compliance with the Pari-Mutuel Betting Supervision Regulations and Section 204 of the Criminal Code. Regional information is recorded by the CPMA statistic systems as follows: Western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba); Central Canada (Ontario, Quebec); and Eastern Canada (Atlantic Canada). No data is available for Canada's Territories. This data can help assess program reach.

Farm Products Council of Canada

The Farm Products Council of Canada (FPCC) oversees the agencies created under Parts II and III of the Farm Products Agencies Act. It reviews the agencies' operations, marketing/promotional activities and research plans, along with approving their proposed orders and regulations. FPCC also conducts inquiries into the merits of establishing an agency upon receipt of an application and recommends to the Minister accordingly. GBA Plus considerations are applied to understand the program's reach, including the demographics of affected groups.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Farm Products Council of Canada

The FPCC does not collect demographic information due to client privacy and its third-party structure. Instead, it uses secondary data from Statistics Canada to assess the demographics of affected groups. Demographic data on affected groups can be assessed every 4 years using the Census of Agriculture and the Census of Population. This data helps inform assumptions on the reach of agencies overseen by the FPCC.

Federal, Provincial and Territorial Cost-Shared Markets and Trade

The Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Cost-Shared Markets and Trade program leverages funding and mobilize the agriculture and agri-food sector through provincial/territorial government markets and trade programs among producers, processors, organizations and small and medium enterprises. GBA Plus considerations will be applied to assess the program reach, identify potential barriers and seek opportunities to enhance the program's support for underrepresented and marginalized groups in the sector.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Federal, Provincial and Territorial Cost-Shared Markets and Trade

Federal, provincial and territorial cost-shared markets and trade programming collects data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. Under Sustainable Candadian Agricultural Framework (CAP) (2023–28), federal, provincial and territorial governments committed to the collection of voluntary self-identification data on the participation of women, youth and Indigenous Peoples, as well as the integration of GBA Plus considerations into Sustainable CAP performance reporting. This includes measuring the proportion of underrepresented and marginalized groups accessing programs under the Sustainable CAP framework. Program reports are prepared annually. The data is used to understand the program reach, identify potential barriers and seek opportunities for enhancing program support.

In addition to the applicant data collected, AAFC will access data from Statistics Canada's Business Linkable File Environment, starting as early as 2025, to prepare demographic profiles and measure progress annually.

The GBA Plus data collection plan is also complemented by other data sources, including sector data collected and reported by Statistics Canada.

Food Policy Initiatives

The Food Policy Initiatives broadly capture the following programs:

Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF)

The LFIF supports locally driven projects that improve community food security through the purchase and installation of infrastructure and equipment, increasing access to local, nutritious and culturally appropriate food. GBA Plus considerations are applied to assess program reach, identify potential barriers and seek opportunities to enhance the program's support for underrepresented and marginalized groups.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF)

The LFIF collects data both at the application stage and through performance reports submitted to the department following project completion. This data is assessed to determine the program's impact and inform the design and delivery of future iterations. Program reports are prepared annually. In addition, the application form collects voluntary data from applicants on the majority ownership of their business, organizational mandates, expected direct beneficiaries and business planning to support diversity, equity and inclusion. This enhanced data collection will allow the program to further disaggregate applicant information to identify who is accessing the program and determine the overall reach and impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups.

School Food Infrastructure Fund (SFIF)

As a complement to the National School Food Program, SFIF supports not-for-profit organizations to improve infrastructure and equipment for school food programming across Canada. GBA Plus considerations are applied to assess the program reach, identify potential barriers, and seek opportunities to enhance the program's support for underrepresented and marginalized groups.

GBA Plus data collection plan - School Food Infrastructure Fund (SFIF)

The SFIF collects data both at the application stage and through performance reports submitted to the department following project completion. This data is assessed to determine the program's impact and inform the design and delivery of future iterations. Program reports are prepared annually. In addition, the application form collects voluntary data from applicants on the majority ownership of their business, organizational mandates, and expected direct beneficiaries. It also gathers information on business planning to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. This enhanced data collection will allow the program to further disaggregate applicant information to identify who is accessing the program and determine the overall reach and impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups.

Sector Engagement and Development

The Sector Engagement and Development program gathers and analyzes data related to agriculture, agri-food markets, and industries, maintains relationships with industry, provides analysis of industry competitiveness, and promotes sector interests. GBA Plus considerations are applied to assess program reach, identify potential barriers, and seek opportunities to enhance support for underrepresented and marginalized groups.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Sector Engagement and Development

The Sector Engagement and Development program collects partial data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. The program currently collects this data from applicants applying for membership on the Canadian Agricultural Youth Council and is exploring options to integrate additional data collection procedures across its other engagement fora. The Department continues to increase the representation of all underrepresented and marginalized groups in its Sector Engagement Tables and Councils. AAFC will continue monitoring the membership of these Tables, striving for gender parity (50%) and increased representation from underrepresented and marginalized groups, aiming to achieve a 30% presence. This goal aligns with the Government of Canada's 50-30 Challenge.

The department's regional offices across Canada work to build and strengthen relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders, including those from underrepresented and marginalized groups. Through direct engagements and Ministerial outreach activities with these client groups throughout all regions, AAFC aims to ensure that there is awareness of its programs and services and that the unique perspectives of diverse stakeholders are taken into consideration in program and policy design.

AgriCompetitiveness Program

The AgriCompetitiveness Program assists industry-led efforts to provide producers with information needed to build capacity and support sector development. Analysis of GBA Plus-related data is used to understand the program's reach, identify potential barriers, and seek opportunities to enhance the program's support for underrepresented and marginalized groups.

GBA Plus data collection plan - AgriCompetitiveness Program

The AgriCompetitiveness Program collects data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. Applicants are asked voluntary self-identification questions to support GBA Plus analysis.

Under the Sustainable CAP, an enhanced data collection plan was implemented. This includes additional voluntary data from applicants on the majority ownership of their business, organizational mandates, expected direct beneficiaries, and business planning to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. This enhanced data collection will allow the program to further disaggregate applicant information, helping to identify who is accessing the program and determine the overall reach and impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups. Program reports are prepared annually.

Furthermore, plans have been made to start measuring the participation of Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth across programs under Sustainable CAP, including this program. The GBA Plus data collection plan is also complemented by other data sources, including sector data collected and reported by Statistics Canada.

AgriDiversity Program

The AgriDiversity Program supports activities that strengthen the capacity of underrepresented and marginalized groups (youth, women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, racialized groups (visible minorities), 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and official language minority communities) to increase their participation in the sector. GBA Plus considerations guide program design by using data to assess reach, identify barriers, and enhance opportunities for greater inclusion of underrepresented and marginalized groups.

GBA Plus data collection plan - AgriDiversity Program

The AgriDiversity Program collects data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. Applicants are asked voluntarily to respond to self-identification questions to support GBA Plus analysis.

Under the Sustainable CAP, an enhanced data collection plan was implemented. This includes additional voluntary data from applicants on the majority ownership of their business, organizational mandates, expected direct beneficiaries, and business planning to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. This enhanced data collection will allow the program to better disaggregate applicant information to identify who is accessing the program and determine the overall reach and impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups. Program reports are prepared annually.

Furthermore, plans were made to measure the participation of Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth across programs under Sustainable CAP, including this program. The GBA Plus data collection plan is also complemented by other data sources, including sector data collected and reported by Statistics Canada.

Youth Employment and Skills Program

The Youth Employment and Skills Program contributes to projects that employ youth and youth-facing barriers, including women, Indigenous youth, Black and other racialized youth, persons with disabilities, while taking into account their intersectionality. An analysis of GBA Plus-related data was used to understand the program reach, identify potential barriers, and seek opportunities to enhance the program's support for underrepresented and marginalized groups.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Youth Employment and Skills Program

The Youth Employment and Skills Program collects data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. Applicants are asked voluntary self-identification questions on the majority ownership of their business, organizational mandates, expected direct beneficiaries, and business planning to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. This enhanced data collection will allow the program to further disaggregate applicant information to identify who is accessing the program and determine the overall reach and impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups.

Wine Sector Support Program

The Wine Sector Program aims to provide short-term financial support to licensed Canadian wineries as they transition and adapt to ongoing and emerging challenges impacting the financial resilience and competitiveness of the wine industry. Analysis of GBA Plus-related data is used to understand the program reach.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Wine Sector Support Program

The Wine Sector Support Program collects data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. Applicants are asked to voluntarily self-identify regarding the majority ownership of their business, organizational mandates, expected direct beneficiaries, and business planning to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. This enhanced data collection will allow the program to further disaggregate applicant information to identify who is accessing the program and determine the overall reach and impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups.

Supply Management Initiatives

The Supply Management Initiatives broadly capture the following programs:

Dairy Direct Payment Program

The Dairy Direct Payment Program supports dairy producers as a result of market access commitments made under recent international trade agreements. GBA Plus considerations are applied to assess program reach.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Dairy Direct Payment Program

The program collects voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. This data is assessed to better understand the program's reach, its impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups, and to inform the delivery of supply-managed programs.

Dairy Innovation and Investment Fund

The Dairy Innovation and Investment Fund encourages investment in innovative technologies and practices to improve sustainability and competitiveness in Canada's dairy sector. GBA Plus considerations are applied to assess program reach and identify potential barriers.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Dairy Innovation and Investment Fund

Supply Management Processing Investment Fund

The Supply Management Processing Investment Fund supports investments in dairy, poultry, and egg processing facilities that improve productivity and/or efficiency through the purchase of new automated equipment and technology. Guided by GBA Plus considerations, the program seeks to address barriers and identify opportunities to better support underrepresented and marginalized groups. To this end, organizations that are majority-led or majority-owned by underrepresented groups may receive a more favourable cost-share ratio for eligible expenses.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Supply Management Processing Investment Fund

The program collects voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to monitor and report on program impacts by gender and diversity. This data also informs the design and delivery of future programs.

Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program

The Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program supports supply-managed poultry and egg farmers in adapting to market changes resulting from the implementation of recent international trade agreements.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program

The program collects voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. The program also includes targeted questions related to whether or not the participant is led, or majority-owned, by a young producer or young producers. The program may provide a more favourable cost-share ratio for young producers. This data is assessed to better understand the program's reach and determine its impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups and to better inform the delivery of supply-managed programs.

Market Development Program for Turkey and Chicken

The Market Development Program for Turkey and Chicken helps increase domestic demand and consumption of Canadian products through industry-led promotional activities that differentiate Canadian products and producers, while leveraging Canada's reputation for high quality and safe food.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Market Development Program for Turkey and Chicken

The program collects voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. This data is assessed to better understand the program's reach and determine its impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups and inform the delivery of supply-managed programs.

Trade and Market Expansion

The Trade and Market Expansion program supports Canada's producers and processors by helping to improve market access, expand market opportunities, and strengthen international trade rules. GBA Plus is applied to ensure that the benefits and opportunities resulting from free trade agreements (FTAs) are more widely shared, including among Indigenous Peoples and other underrepresented and marginalized groups. All FTAs are subject to GBA Plus review and analysis.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Trade and Market Expansion

The negotiation of FTAs itself is not a funding program and does not collect data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. However, using Statistics Canada's demographic data, AAFC supports Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in assessing the impacts of Canada's FTA provisions related to the trade in agricultural goods.

AAFC will continue to provide sector-specific GBA Plus assessments and input to GAC throughout the negotiation process of each FTA. This is to ensure negotiators are aware of possible diversity impacts of proposed FTAs and potential inequitable outcomes to those engaged within Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector. In addition, AAFC will continue to engage Indigenous Peoples to have a better understanding of their interests and concerns regarding Canada's ongoing and potential future trade negotiations on agricultural goods.

AgriMarketing Program

The AgriMarketing Program helps industry increase and diversify exports by supporting promotional activities that differentiate Canadian products and producers. GBA Plus is applied to promote equitable access to support and promotional opportunities for underrepresented and marginalized groups within Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector. The program may provide a more favourable cost-share ratio to some recipients (for example, underrepresented groups). GBA Plus data is assessed to determine the program's reach, and identify barriers and opportunities for underrepresented and marginalized groups in the sector, leading to an enhanced data collection plan for the program, as well as informing future iterations of the program's design and delivery.

GBA Plus data collection plan - AgriMarketing Program

The AgriMarketing Program collects data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. Applicants are asked to voluntarily self-identify to support GBA Plus analysis.

Under the Sustainable CAP, an enhanced data collection plan was implemented. This includes additional voluntary data from applicants on the majority ownership of their business, organizational mandates, expected direct beneficiaries, and business planning to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. This enhanced data collection will allow the program to further disaggregate applicant information to identify who is accessing the program and determine the overall reach and impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups. Program reports are prepared annually.

Furthermore, plans were made to start measuring the participation of Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth across programs under Sustainable CAP, including this program. The GBA Plus data collection plan is also complemented by other data sources, including sector data collected and reported by Statistics Canada.

Water Infrastructure Divestiture

The Water Infrastructure Divestiture program focusses on transferring ownership of federally-owned assets and is not applicable to the purpose of monitoring and reporting impacts by gender and diversity.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Water Infrastructure Divestiture

As the transfer of ownership will not result in any change in operation, and no users will be affected, a GBA Plus Data Collection and Reporting Plan was deemed unnecessary for this program.

Core Responsibility: Science and Innovation

AgriInnovate

The AgriInnovate program provides repayable contributions to incentivize targeted commercialization, demonstration and/or adoption of commercial-ready innovative technologies and processes that increase agricultural and agri-food sector competitiveness and sustainability. The priority of the program is to invest in technologies and processes that are new to Canada and to strengthen the Canadian agricultural and agri-food innovation ecosystem.

GBA Plus data collection plan - AgriInnovate

The AgriInnovate program collects data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. AAFC designed an enhanced data collection plan for GBA Plus for Sustainable CAP programs, including the AgriInnovate program. The enhanced plan includes collecting information in response to self-identification questions in support of GBA Plus. This includes voluntary data from applicants on the majority ownership of their business, the mandate of their organization, expected direct beneficiaries, and information regarding business planning to support diversity, equity and inclusion. The Program may provide a more favourable cost-share ratio where the majority of the business is owned or led by one or more underrepresented groups. The program also prioritizes and provides up to 100% stacking (compared to the normal 75% level) for underrepresented groups. This enhanced data collection will allow the program to further disaggregate applicant information to identify who is accessing the program and determine the overall reach and impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups. Program reports are prepared annually.

Furthermore, plans were made to start measuring the participation of Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth across programs under Sustainable CAP, including this program. In addition to the applicant data collected, AAFC will access data from Statistics Canada's Business Linkable File Environment, starting as early as 2025, to prepare demographic profiles and measure progress annually.

The GBA Plus data collection plan is also complemented by other data sources, including sector data collected and reported by Statistics Canada.

AgriScience

The AgriScience program supports industry-led research, development and knowledge transfer, with the aim of developing innovative agriculture, agri-food and agri-based practices, processes, and products to address agricultural sector challenges and increase market opportunities. The AgriScience program includes 2 components:

clusters, which support national not-for-profit, industry-led entities that assemble scientific expertise from industry, academia, and government, to address sector or commodity-specific priority issues with a five-year strategy;
projects, which are individual, sector-led research activities or small groups of projects that are generally local or regional in scope. GBA Plus considerations are applied to understand the program's reach, identify potential barriers, and seek opportunities to enhance the program's support for underrepresented and marginalized groups.

The AgriScience program aims to be more inclusive of Indigenous partners. As part of the Sustainable CAP, the project component of the AgriScience program includes a notional allocation (up to $5 million) for applicants who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit) in an effort to support Indigenous science and knowledge systems that align with the Indigenous community's specific needs. Furthermore, the AgriScience program provides additional flexibilitie for Indigenous partners, such as a more favourable cost-share ratio and no government funding stacking limitations.

GBA Plus data collection plan - AgriScience

AAFC designed an enhanced data collection plan for GBA Plus for Sustainable CAP programs, including AgriScience. The enhanced plan includes collecting information in response to voluntary self-identification questions in support of GBA Plus. This includes self-identification data from applicants on the majority ownership of their business, the mandate of their organization, expected direct beneficiaries, and information regarding business planning to support diversity, equity and inclusion. This enhanced data collection will allow the program to further disaggregate applicant information to identify who is accessing the program and determine the overall reach and impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups. Program reports are prepared annually.

In addition, as of the 2020-21 reporting period, recipients are required to report on the gender and diversity of the highly qualified personnel (HQP) who were working on funded activities in the final performance report. The collection of disaggregated HQP data under Sustainable CAP utilizes the SimpleSurvey platform. In the new survey, the demographic categories are: location, Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit, Unknown), persons with disability, visible minority and/or racialized groups, woman, 2SLGBTQI+ communities, official language minority communities and if they are between the ages of 18 to 35.

Additionally, for the Sustainable CAP AgriScience — Cluster Component, for applications that lacked involvement of underrepresented groups, in particular Indigenous organizations, at the approvals stage, a condition was included that the recipient develop an approach to strengthen the involvement of these groups as part of the research and outcomes. This approach is part of the funding agreement they enter into with AAFC.

Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program

The Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program helps the agriculture sector seize opportunities, respond to emerging issues, and path find and pilot solutions to new and ongoing issues in order to adapt and remain competitive. GBA Plus considerations are applied to understand the program reach, identify potential barriers and seek opportunities to enhance the program's support for underrepresented and marginalized groups.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program

The Canadian Agricultural Strategic Priorities Program collects GBA Plus data at the application stage. Applicants are asked voluntary self-identification questions on the majority ownership of their business, organizational mandates, expected direct beneficiaries, and business planning to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. This enhanced data collection will allow the program to further disaggregate applicant information to identify who is accessing the program and determine the overall reach and impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups to support GBA Plus analysis.

Environment and Climate Change Programs

The Environment and Climate Change Program is a broad program category capturing the following programs:

Agricultural Climate Solutions (ACS)

The Agricultural Climate Solutions Program comprises 2 streams: the Living Labs Program and the On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF). The Living Labs Stream aims to accelerate co-development, testing, adoption, dissemination and monitoring of technologies and practices, including beneficial management practices, that sequester carbon and/or mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The OFCAF Stream supports producers in adopting beneficial management practices in nitrogen management, cover cropping and rotational grazing practices in order to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions and provide environmental co-benefits.

Across both streams, GBA Plus considerations are applied to inform program design and delivery, identify potential barriers, and seek opportunities to enhance the program's support for underrepresented and marginalized groups. Under OFCAF, the program may offer a more favourable cost-share ratio to producers who self-identify as Indigenous or as belonging to another marginalized or underrepresented group. As part of the next phase of OFCAF (2025-28) organizations presented strategies to enhance project outreach to, and uptake by, marginalized and underrepresented groups.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Agricultural Climate Solutions (ACS)

Both ACS–Living Labs and the OFCAF streams collect GBA Plus data at the application stage and through performance data, which can be disaggregated to examine the reach and impact of the program on specific underrepresented and marginalized groups. This data is assessed in annual performance reporting and results are considered in the design and delivery of the program. The application form asks applicants voluntary self-identification questions, which is a consideration in its assessment, and provides insight on its overall reach and impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups.

In addition, under ACS–Living Labs, the gender and diversity of the highly qualified personnel (HQP) who were working on funded activities, and the breakdown of underrepresented and marginalized groups in the partnerships established with core producers, will be collected as part of the recipient performance reporting process. However, the data collection survey for HQP will only be conducted in late fall after all the performance reports have been approved.

Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program

The ACT Program, comprising 2 funding streams, supports the development and adoption of agricultural clean technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable growth in Canada's agricultural and agri-food sector. GBA Plus considerations are applied to inform program design and delivery, identify potential barriers, and seek opportunities to enhance the program's support for underrepresented and marginalized groups. To that end, the program may provide a more favourable cost-share ratio for recipients who identify that the majority of their business is owned or led by one or more underrepresented groups (such as Indigenous Peoples, youth, women, visible minorities, persons with disabilities and 2SLGBTQI+).

GBA Plus data collection plan - Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program

Both the Adoption Stream and the Research and Innovation Stream of the program collect voluntary self-identification data at the application stage to examine and report on the reach and impact of the program on specific underrepresented and marginalized groups, and better inform program design and delivery. It collects voluntary data from applicants on the majority ownership of their business, organizational mandates, expected direct beneficiaries, and business planning to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. This enhanced data collection will allow the program to further disaggregate applicant information to identify who is accessing the program and determine the overall reach and impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups.

In addition, the gender and diversity of the HQP working on funded activities of the Research and Innovation Stream will be collected as part of the recipient performance reporting process. However, the data collection survey will only be conducted in late fall after all the performance reports have been approved.

Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge

The Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge advances innovative, scalable, and economically viable practices, processes, and technologies that reduce enteric methane emissions. GBA Plus considerations are applied to inform program design and delivery, identify potential barriers, and seek opportunities to enhance the program's support for underrepresented and marginalized groups.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge

The Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge collects data at the application stage. This data is assessed to determine the program's impact and inform the design and delivery of future Challenges. Program reports are prepared annually. The application form collects voluntary data from applicants on the majority ownership of their business, organizational mandates, expected direct beneficiaries, and business planning to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. This enhanced data collection will allow the program to further disaggregate applicant information to identify who is accessing the program and determine the overall reach and impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups.

Federal, Provincial and Territorial Cost-shared Science, Research, Innovation and Environment

To advance science, research, innovation, and environmental sustainability in agriculture through collaborative federal, provincial, and territorial investments. GBA Plus considerations will be applied to assess the program reach, identify potential barriers, and seek opportunities to enhance the program's support for underrepresented and marginalized groups.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Federal, Provincial and Territorial Cost-shared Science, Research, Innovation and Environment

Under Sustainable CAP (2023–28), FPT governments committed to collecting self-identification data on the participation of women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples, and the integration of GBA Plus considerations into Sustainable CAP performance reporting by measuring the proportion of underrepresented and marginalized groups accessing programs. Program reports are prepared annually. The data is used to understand the program reach, identify potential barriers, and seek opportunities for enhancing program support.

The GBA Plus data collection plan is also complemented by other data sources, including sector data collected and reported by Statistics Canada. AAFC will access data from Statistics Canada's Business Linkable File Environment, starting as early as 2025, to prepare demographic profiles and measure progress annually.

Foundational Science and Research

To transfer, or make available for transfer, scientific knowledge to the agricultural sector and the science community. GBA Plus considerations are applied to ensure equitable access and address diverse needs in the transfer and application of scientific knowledge.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Foundational Science and Research

The Foundational Science and Research program collects data to enable the monitoring and reporting of program impacts by gender and diversity. This includes a mandatory question on impacts related to their project outcomes based on gender, age, ethnicity, income, region, culture or other factors.

AAFC will develop and implement an approach over 3 years (2025–26 to 2027–28) to better educate, raise awareness, and to support the research community on the application of GBA Plus considerations. Efforts will include developing informational materials and leveraging additional tools and resources to better measure impacts by gender and diversity. These will result in improved data quality and help to inform project design and impact assessment. The current GBA Plus question will be reviewed following the education and awareness campaign to determine whether the question is sufficient or needs to be expanded, while taking into consideration feedback from the research community.

Core Responsibility: Sector Risk

African Swine Fever Response

Ongoing collaboration between FPT governments and industry to plan and proactively prepare for risks associated with African Swine Fever (ASF), as well as to ensure response plans are up-to-date and tested in order to ensure preparedness for a potential ASF outbreak in Canada.

GBA Plus data collection plan - African Swine Fever Response

The collaboration with FPT governments and industry itself is not a funding program and does not collect data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. However, using Statistics Canada's demographic data, AAFC can assess potential impacts on demographic groups in the sector.

Assurance Program

The AgriAssurance Program aims to benefit the industry by helping it develop and adopt systems, along with standards and tools, to support health and safety claims about Canadian agricultural and agri-food products. GBA Plus considerations are applied to understand the program reach, identify potential barriers, and seek opportunities to enhance the program's support for underrepresented and marginalized groups.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Assurance Program

The AgriAssurance Program collects data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. An enhanced data collection plan was implemented under the Sustainable CAP. This includes additional voluntary data from applicants on the majority ownership of their business, organizational mandates, expected direct beneficiaries, and business planning to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. This enhanced data collection will allow the program to further disaggregate applicant information to identify who is accessing the program and determine the overall reach and impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups. Program reports are prepared annually.

Furthermore, plans were made to start measuring the participation of Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth across programs under the Sustainable CAP, including this program. The GBA Plus data collection plan is also complemented by other data sources, including sector data collected and reported by Statistics Canada.

Business Risk Management Programs (AgriStability, AgriInsurance, AgriInvest, AgriRecovery)

Business Risk Management (BRM) programs provide agricultural producers with protection against income and production losses, along with helping them manage risks that threaten the viability of their farms. GBA Plus considerations are applied to inform AAFC's collaboration with provincial and territorial partners to finalize a results reporting strategy under the Sustainable CAP framework, supporting GBA Plus across all BRM programming.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Business Risk Management programs

The Sustainable CAP includes data-sharing clauses that include the collection of GBA Plus data, for the BRM suite of programs, where that information is voluntarily provided by BRM participants. AAFC aims to begin the voluntary collection of relevant demographic data from producers participating in AgriInvest and AgriStability programs in 2025.

Farm Debt Mediation Service

The Farm Debt Mediation Service (FDMS) helps farmers in financial difficulties mediate solutions with their creditors. This work is led by a neutral third-party of financial experts and mediators and, as such, the FDMS does not share or report on this information beyond the number of farmers helped to ensure the privacy of all involved. GBA Plus considerations are applied to ensure that communications are done in a manner that all communities are aware of the Service and can participate in the Appeal Board selection processes and/or benefit from its help when needed.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Farm Debt Mediation Service

Due to the nature of the FDMS and the privacy of its applicants, the FDMS does not collect sufficient data to monitor impacts by gender and diversity from its applicant data. To inform assumptions about the service's reach and potential impacts on diverse groups, the FDMS relies on agriculture sector demographics as a proxy. These demographics are updated every 4 years through data from the Census of Agriculture and the Census of Population.

Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Cost-shared Assurance

The Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Cost-shared Assurance program supports assurance systems, the development of tools and resources to support public trust initiatives, innovation and transparency through evidence-based study, a better understanding of vulnerabilities and public sentiment, and communication of key findings, outcomes and industry activities to the public. GBA Plus considerations will be applied to assess the program reach, identify potential barriers, and seek opportunities for enhancing program support.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Cost-shared Assurance

The Federal, Provincial and Territorial Cost-shared Assurance program collects data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. Under the Sustainable CAP, federal, provincial, and territorial governments committed to collecting voluntary self-identification data on the participation of women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples, and the integration of GBA Plus considerations into Sustainable CAP performance reporting by measuring the proportion of underrepresented and marginalized groups accessing programs under the Sustainable CAP framework. Program reports are prepared annually.

In addition to the applicant data collected, AAFC will access data from Statistics Canada's Business Linkable File Environment to prepare demographic profiles and measure progress. The GBA Plus data collection plan is also complemented by other data sources, including sector data collected and reported by Statistics Canada.

Livestock Price Insurance Program

The Livestock Price Insurance Program provides producers with protection against an unexpected drop in prices over a defined period of time. GBA Plus considerations are applied to inform collaboration with provincial and territorial partners to finalize a results reporting strategy under the Sustainable CAP (2023–28) framework.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Livestock Price Insurance Program

Provinces have agreed to collect and share voluntary participant demographic data and information from the program with AAFC for Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth. This information may also include demographic data for other underrepresented and marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities, racialized groups, 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, and members of official language minority communities. If collecting demographic data proves challenging, provinces will adjust their program application forms to collect participants' personal information in a way that will allow the province to assign demographic data collected from alternative sources (for example, BRM suite) to Livestock Price Insurance participants via unique identifiers. AAFC will begin the voluntary collection of relevant demographic data in 2025.

Loan Guarantees Programs

The loan guarantees programs include: the Advance Payments Program; the Price Pooling Program, under the Agricultural Marketing Programs Act; and the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act (CALA) Program. GBA Plus considerations are applied to promote equitable access to financing for underrepresented and marginalized groups in agriculture, and identify barriers and opportunities to enhance support.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Loan guarantees programs

In 2023–24, the Advance Payment Program began collecting GBA Plus-related data. Producers may now voluntarily self-identify whether they belong to an underrepresented or marginalized group and their years of farming experience. Self-declaration information is reported to AAFC through the Advance Payments Program Electronic Delivery System by third-party delivery agents who administer the program. Collection and analysis of this data will inform future design and delivery of the programs and inform on the programs' reach to and impact on underrepresented and marginalized groups. Program reports are prepared annually.

The CALA online system is administered through the department of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED), and it currently does not have the capacity to collect, monitor, and report by gender and diversity. However, in response to AAFC's ongoing efforts to collect disaggregated GBA Plus data, the CALA Program incorporated changes to the program registration form for 2024–25 that will enable the collection of quantitative GBA Plus data. In collaboration with ISED, the new registration form will allow the program to report disaggregated data starting in 2025–26.

Pest Management

Scientific data supporting safe use and registration of minor uses of pesticides and biopesticides are generated and reviewed, and tools, techniques and practices to reduce the risk to human health and the environment associated with pesticide use are made available to producers.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Pest Management

The Pest Management program does not collect specific data at this time to enable the monitoring and reporting of program impacts by gender and diversity. Although it can be assumed that all Canadians indirectly benefit from a more diverse pesticide landscape supporting healthy, fertile soils that support food systems, greater effort is required to deepen its GBA Plus monitoring/reporting on program impacts, research accessibility, and other areas of opportunity. The Pest Management Centre (PMC) will work with AAFC's GBA Plus experts to explore how to leverage additional tools and resources to enhance the capacity to measure impacts by gender and diversity.

As an initial step, PMC will explore reporting results of its science by crop type. As AAFC has data on where these crops are commercially grown in Canada, it can determine what regions have the opportunity to utilize the results of PMC's research. These results (by commercial crop type/region) will be reported starting in 2025–26.

Return of Payments

The Return of Payments program records repayments to AAFC for previously sunset programs. While part of the department's program inventory, this programming is not applicable to the purpose of monitoring and reporting impacts by gender and diversity.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Return of Payments

The program's primary focus is on fund recovery rather than providing services or benefits. As such, a GBA Plus Data Collection and Reporting Plan is not applicable to this program.

Internal Services

To build an inclusive and representative workforce by implementing policies and practices that promote diversity, equity, and accessibility. Efforts include inclusive hiring processes, accessible tools, and the use of self-identification data for targeted learning and development opportunities.

GBA Plus data collection plan - Internal Services

As part of the AAFC Data Strategy, the department has committed to developing processes, tools, talent, and data governance to enable GBA Plus assessments and to proactively consider intersections between the activities advancing the strategy and the departmental GBA Plus framework.

AAFC uses employee self-identification data to track progress and inform short-term hiring goals. Employment equity reports are shared quarterly with branches to address gaps and support inclusive staffing priorities.

Under the AAFC Data Strategy, the forthcoming AAFC Data Inventory is being assessed for GBA Plus integration. If preliminary assessments are deemed suitable, GBA Plus-related datasets could be identified across the department through the broader data inventorying process.