General information on up-front multi-year funding to the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute
| Recipient information | The Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute |
|---|---|
| Start date | December 14, 2006 |
| End date | March 31, 2022 |
| Link to department's Program Inventory | Not applicable |
| Purpose and objectives of transfer payment | The conditional grant for the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute encourages independent policy research benefitting the Canadian agricultural and agri-food sector. The grant also helps ensure continued success in building an inclusive and forward-looking dialogue on the future of Canadian agriculture, and further provide a stable and sustained forum to discuss issues of importance to the industry. |
| Audit findings by the recipient during the reporting year, and future plan | Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute's financial activities in 2021–22 are set out in the "Financial Statements of Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute March 31, 2022". This report confirms that in the fiscal year 2021–2022, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the financial year are in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations. |
| Evaluation findings by the recipient during the reporting year, and future plan | On June 30, 2020, a Compulsory Performance Evaluation (CPE) was submitted as required under the terms of Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute's 15-year funding agreement (Article 11) to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. This represented the third of four CPEs required under the terms of the agreement and was disclosed in the 2019–2020 Departmental Results Report. No additional Performance Evaluation was required for 2020–2021 or 2021–22. A final CPE is anticipated in fall of 2022. |
| Summary of results achieved by the recipient |
In fiscal year 2021–22, the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) focused on its mission to lead, catalyze and coordinate independent strategic and policy analysis on emerging agri-food issues, engage stakeholders in dialogue, and advance public policy with a focus on boosting its relevance and impact (as is conveyed in their Annual Report to the Minister for fiscal year 2021–22). In 2021–22 financial year CAPI's research agenda focused on critical issues in: trade and market access; the environment and climate change; value-added processing; food security; Canada's next agricultural policy framework; as well as the intersection of these issues. Research continues to be the foundation of CAPI's work. CAPI expands its research capacity by commissioning research with university researchers. This research can be used by CAPI to engage industry focus groups to critique/ validate/and add value to the work. CAPI has also added postdocs from a mix of disciplines to engage in research, problem solve on-site, present project findings and obtain feedback. CAPI has also engaged Fellows from across the country. CAPI has also expanded its communication tools using dialogs, research reports, quick-think reports, and web-based communications tools. CAPI seeks to connect its work by using a multi-stakeholder approach by drawing expertise and feedback from academia, farming, food production, government and civil society to conduct policy research. Relevant Research Undertaken (2 examples) The conference explored topics in the ‘context of a global trading environment where climate change policies have become increasingly ambitious and diverse among international players'. Topics explored included; climate change policies, their impact on agricultural production and trade; border carbon adjustments as a mechanism for adjudicating among climate change policies amidst global competitors; adaptation by various industry players to new policies through opportunities like carbon markets/offsets, sustainable sourcing, and investments. This work builds on the recent collaboration between the Farm Foundation and CAPI on “Trade and the Environment” and “Trade in an Increasingly Chaotic World.” CAPI-Farm Foundation collaborations draw on international experts to drawn attention to the importance of environmental chapters in trade agreements and their importance in shaping future international outcomes for Canada as well as her trading partners. Webinar and Research Report Food Security in the Wake of the Ukrainian Crisis: How Canada Can Play a Role Following the Webinar, CAPI has released a new research report providing additional context and analysis on the state of global food supply and demand; the role that Ukraine and Russia play in supplying food, livestock feed, and fertilizer around the world; insight into the role Canada can play while scarcity drives prices higher; and policy recommendations and considerations to inform dialogue in Canada as how to respond to the unfolding food security crisis. Additional Reports Supply Chain efficiencies from the perspective of the former UK Groceries Code Adjudicator Perspective Report Prepared for CAPI by Christine Tacon January 2022 Overview of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Relations and Canadian agriculture What We Heard Report, CAPI, December 2021 The relationship between Canada's federal government, the provinces and territories is a central feature of the nation's governance and its policymaking. Characteristics of this complex relationship are the themes of shared jurisdictions, responsibility, authority, and funding. This report is an expert-driven discussion on the topic of Canada's FPT relations, its current status in Canada and the role it plays (and has played) in making our agriculture sector thrive. Understanding Our Past and Present: Designing our Future: Federal-Provincial-Territorial Policy Making and Canadian Agriculture, Perspective Report prepared for CAPI by Douglas Hedley, July 2021. CAPI commissioned Douglas Hedley (former Assistant Deputy Minister for Farm Financial Programs in AAFC from 2001 to 2004), to write this Perspective report. Creating Prosperity from Chaos: A CAPI Presentation at the Big Solutions Forum Trusted Opinion Leaders Pre-Dialogue, 11th May 2021. Managing Surge Capacity and Boosting Resilience in Meat Supply Chains, Quick Think Report prepared for CAPI by Al Mussell and Darryl Robinson October 2021. The Role of Soil Health in Sustainable Agriculture What We Heard: Dialogue on Chronic Wasting Disease and the Canadian Agriculture and Agri-food Sectors: Current Knowledge, Risks and Policy Options, CAPI. June 2021. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) presents real risks all cervid species including already threatened species such as the Boreal Caribou, with a potential risk of human transmission. CWD could disrupt trade in agricultural products, for food security among Northern, remote, and First Nations communities. CAPI has highlighted actions that should be seriously considered in the fight to prevent further spread of CWD, including a pan-Canadian approach with improved governance using a One Health approach, boosting prion research, winding down all cervid farms with remediation on those contaminated and implementing buffer zones with the potential for aggressive culling to prevent the spread of the disease. CAPI commissioned Al Mussel and Darryl Robinson to revisit the findings of the 2020 feasibility study on small scale meat processing plants as a means of mitigating risks to meat supplies in Canada in light of Covid-19 disruptions. The 2020 CAPI study was prepared by University of Alberta Professor James Rude. The study found that simply building more, smaller/regional meat processing plants; engineering mandatory excess capacity into meat plants to provide additional space for workers; and increased use of automation in processing plants- would not independently secure meat supply chain resilience. The new 2021 Quick Think Report by Mussell and Robinson revisits the findings of this report within the current context and broaden its content in some critical aspects. The Role of Soil Health in Sustainable Agriculture Cover Cropping on the Prairies. 2020–2022 CAPI Doctoral Fellow Callum Morrison, June 2021 Cover crops are often viewed with skepticism by Prairie farmers due to the limitations of the short growing seasons and the unpredictable weather. Increasingly early adopter farmers are adapting cover crops to Prairie cropping systems and environmental conditions. However, there remains a lack of information on how farmers in the Prairies are using cover crops, which hinders further adoption, research, and extension. The report by 2020–2022 CAPI Doctoral Fellow Callum Morrison discusses the current state of cover cropping on the Prairies after hearing from 211 farmers across the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba Growing Stronger Conclusions from Agri-Food Community Consultations on the COVID-19 Pandemic Final Report: Growing Stronger: Aiming for resilience in our Canadian Food System Conclusions from Agri-Food Community Consultations on the COVID-19 Pandemic. |
| Total funding approved (dollars) | $15,000,000 |
| Total funding received (dollars) | $15,000,000 |