Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s 2024-25 Departmental Results Report

The demand for Canadian agriculture and agri-food products remained robust, with AAFC's focus on supporting the sector to seize market opportunities and respond to challenges from the global trade environment. These challenges included fluctuating market conditions and geopolitical uncertainties, market interruptions and rising protectionism measures, impacting Canadian producers and exporters. The performance of the department is partly gauged by the contributions of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector to the broader economy and its growth, particularly through the value of agriculture and agri-food exports. In 2024, Canada's agriculture and agri-food exports, including fish and seafood products reached $100.3 billion, surpassing the previous target of $75 billion set for 2025.

In 2024–25, AAFC continued to work in partnership with federal departments, provinces and territories, and industry stakeholders to identify and pursue opportunities both domestically and internationally. These ongoing efforts supported the agriculture and agri-food sector's contribution to economic growth through market development activities, trade advocacy, export diversification, support for Canada's supply-managed sectors, and ongoing regional and national engagement on critical issues. AAFC's initiatives and partnerships served to enhance the sector's competitiveness, resilience, ability to address tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade, and facilitate growth within key export markets.

Results achieved

• In 2024–25, AAFC delivered a wide array of market development and industry services in close collaboration with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and provincial, territorial and industry partners. Under the Canada Brand, the department continued to invest in promoting Canadian agri-food products internationally through traditional and online retail and foodservice channels. For example, in 2024–25, digital marketing campaigns in Japan and Vietnam, which featured a Canadian showcase on major e-commerce platforms, resulted in over $5.2 million in sales.
• AAFC also organized 7 flagship Canada Pavilions at premier international food and beverage trade shows, including, for example, Asociación Nacional de Tiendas de Autoservicio y Departamentales (ANTAD) and Alimentaria 2025 in Mexico. The Pavilions cumulatively supported over 330 exhibitors who reported $229 million in onsite sales, and $879.2 million in anticipated sales over 12 months. The sector was further supported by 47 coordinated Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) market development initiatives to help increase awareness of the Canada Brand and expand business opportunities for Canadian companies across priority regions, including the Indo-Pacific, the U.S., Mexico, Europe, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
• In 2024–25 AAFC's regional offices delivered 3,720 client services supporting the development of agriculture and agri-food businesses by providing advice on government programs, services, and on how to grow their business. Regional offices helped make connections to people and organizations, like government experts or Canadian trade representatives. They also actioned 270 trade leads, connecting local companies to global business opportunities through trade commissioners. Regional offices supported 28 foreign trade delegations where trade commissioners reached out to businesses or brought in potential buyers.
• Through the AgriMarketing Program, AAFC supported various activities focused on expanding into new markets to reduce risks from trade disruptions. In 2024, AAFC provided $7.3 million to Cereals Canada through the AgriMarketing Program and the AgriScience Program — Projects Component, 2 initiatives under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).
• AAFC also announced $3.6 million to Quebec Maple Syrup Producers through the AgriMarketing Program to promote Canadian products internationally in Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan. In addition, the program also prioritized funding for activities in 15 fast-growing Indo-Pacific markets, supported environmentally certified products, and encouraged digital and virtual activities and engagements to reduce environmental impact. In total, 49 projects were approved for up to $64.2 million over the program's first 3 years.
• On March 1, 2024, the Government of Canada announced an extension to AAFC's Wine Sector Support Program (WSSP), investing up to an additional $177 million over 3 years (2024–25 to 2026–27), making the total investment of this program $343 million over 5 years. AAFC delivered the third year of the WSSP in 2024–25. To date, approximately $213 million in grant funding has been paid out to eligible wine producers across Canada: in 2022–23, 454 eligible recipients received approximately $80 million; in 2023-24, 448 eligible recipients received approximately $79 million; and in 2024–25, 477 eligible recipients received approximately $55 million.
• In September 2024, AAFC announced the launch of the new School Food Infrastructure Fund (SFIF) and the next phase of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF). As part of the $62.9 million announcement, AAFC will deliver these 2 programs aimed at supporting community-based not-for-profit organizations working to improve local food security for Canadians of all ages.
• The LFIF renewal was launched in 2 phases: Small Scale Projects and Large Scale Projects. The first application intake, focused on Small Scale Projects, ran from October 1 to 31, 2024, during which 87 local initiatives were approved for funding ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 each, totalling over $5.6 million to enhance food access in their communities. A second round for Small Scale Projects is anticipated for fall 2025. Meanwhile, the intake for Larger Scale Projects applications took place from January 13 to February 28, 2025, with selected projects to be reviewed and funded in 2025–26.
• The various Sector Engagement Tables, including the recently launched Food Manufacturers and Seafood tables, continued to enable government-industry collaboration to enhance the growth and competitive position of the sector. Meetings continued to address various topics, including trade and tariff challenges affecting the sector, supply chain resiliency, labour, and regulations. In 2024–25, for example, the tables completed a study on the best practices for consumer engagement, made progress on the completion of a resource hub that is meant to be a one-stop shop for resources for employers and job seekers in the agriculture and agri-food sector, and completed a compendium of trade barriers for the grains and oilseeds sectors.
• AAFC continued delivering on the Government priority of driving innovation and growth in the supply-managed sectors and fulfilling commitments to address the impacts of recent trade agreements including the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
• The department continued working in collaboration with provinces and territories to improve supply chain relationships, including monitoring the progress of the industry-led Grocery Code of Conduct. Following agreement from all major retailers to participate in the industry-led Grocery Sector Code of Conduct, FPT Ministers of Agriculture agreed to provide $1.2 million in funding to support the Grocery Sector Code of Conduct Adjudication Office. In January 2025, the organization's first president and adjudicator was appointed to continue establishing the Adjudication Office. Work will advance to bring more fairness, transparency, and predictability to Canada's grocery supply chain and for consumers.
• In January 2025, AAFC opened the application intake period for the Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP). This program is aimed at helping young Canadians access employment opportunities and gain valuable work experience in the agricultural sector, while contributing to the growth of the agricultural community in Canada. Since 2019, approximately 6,200 youths — including 2,000 youths facing barriers — have been employed under YESP, in agricultural-related organizations from every province and territory. In 2024–25, a total of 1,118 youths were supported through the program, and 547 of those were youths facing barriers, including 130 Indigenous youths.
• Recognizing the importance of mental health for farmers, AAFC continued to support initiatives aimed at improving well-being within the agricultural community. Under the Sustainable CAP, provinces and territories utilized cost-shared funding to implement region-specific mental health programs. These initiatives included providing counselling services for farmers and their families, as well as offering mental health literacy training to help agricultural community members recognize and address signs of mental distress.
• AAFC launched the $3 million Producer Mental Wellbeing Initiative (PMWI), delivered in partnership with the Privy Council Office's Impact Canada. This 3-year initiative aims to bring forward collaborative solutions that use creative, data-based approaches to help improve the well-being of producers; reduce the stigma around mental health in agriculture; raise awareness; and offer the support producers need, when they need it.
• In 2024, under the AgriCompetitiveness Program, an initiative under the Sustainable CAP, the Government of Canada announced an investment of up to $1.08 million for the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Well-being (CCAW). The CCAW is a collaboration between researchers and mental health professionals looking to expand access to counselling and develop new resources for people in agriculture. Through this project, the department supported the development and delivery of agricultural literacy training for mental health professionals across Canada, and funded the second virtual National Symposium on Agricultural Mental Health in November 2024.
• The AgriCompetitiveness Program is a $25.7-million program which supports sector-led activities that identify industry best practices and build the capacity of the sector, advance farm business management, farm safety information and tools, as well as activities which raise agricultural awareness. To date, the AgriCompetitiveness Program has approved 19 projects for up to $13.9 million for the first 3 years of the program.

AAFC continued working to gain, maintain, and enhance access to global markets to support the sustained growth and profitability of Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector. The department's efforts focused on ensuring predictable trade by advancing agricultural interests, defending science-based trade rules, and supporting market diversification. Collaborating with federal, provincial, territorial, and international partners, these efforts aligned with the Government of Canada's agenda to increase and diversify trade and investment. Departmental success is measured by efforts related to advancing market access barriers towards resolution and advancing trade negotiations. In 2024-25, departmental efforts focused on facilitating growth and trade resiliency within key markets by supporting the sector to seize new trade opportunities, maintain and leverage existing market access, address tariff and non-tariff barriers, and respond to challenges impacting international trade, including continued efforts to mitigate supply chain risks. Programs and services under the Sustainable CAP continued to enable Canadian export activities and competitiveness.

Results achieved

• Working closely with the CFIA, the Department of Finance Canada and GAC, as part of the Federal Market Access Team, the department continued to facilitate regular bilateral and multilateral engagement with key international partners to advance Canada's agricultural trade priorities and support market access, including through ministerial missions, technical missions, working groups, and audits of Canada's animal, plant, and food safety systems. Examples include several AAFC ministerial missions to the U.S. to advance shared priorities with Canada's largest trading partner; engagement with the European Union (EU) through various agriculture sub-committees under the Canada–EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement to address trade related issues, including market access concerns; engagement with Mexico through the Canada-Mexico Consultative Committee on Agriculture; and the 2nd annual Canada-Japan Agriculture Dialogue which took place in November 2024 as part of the department's ongoing collaborative work with a key trading partner to position Canada as a preferential supplier of agriculture goods. As part of continued engagement efforts in China, AAFC also undertook a ministerial mission to Beijing in November 2024 to advance Canada's agricultural relations with China and engage with key partners in-market.
• AAFC supported Government efforts to respond to the evolving U.S. tariffs situation, while working closely with the interdepartmental community to mitigate impacts for the sector. This included gathering information and analysis on sector concerns and impacts regarding tariffs through ministerial roundtable sessions with the agriculture and agri-food industry, bilateral stakeholder engagement, trade analysis and scenario modelling to help inform Government decision-making and economic measures to support the workers and businesses. AAFC also ensured the Canadian agriculture and agri-food industry stakeholders remained informed of Government supports available to mitigate impacts.
• Despite ongoing trade challenges, China remains a key priority market for Canadian industry. Efforts to advance Canada's trade interests in the market included working closely with industry to complete the registration or renewal of Canadian food establishments and vessels in the China Import Food Enterprise Registration (CIFER) system, as well as maintaining updates to Chinese eligibility lists for other Canadian agricultural and seafood products and facilities. AAFC, CFIA and other departments also continued to engage with China to resolve trade and market access issues impacting Canadian exports, including China's restrictions on Canadian beef and pet food containing poultry ingredients, as well as its retaliatory tariffs on certain Canadian agricultural and agri-food products.
• AAFC supported the defense of Canada's agricultural trade interests, particularly in dispute settlement processes. Canada requested a dispute settlement process at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on China's measures against Canadian canola oil, canola meal, peas, as well as certain pork, fish and seafood products. AAFC was involved in the CPTPP dispute initiated by New Zealand on Canada's dairy tariff rate quota (TRQ) administration, supporting GAC in the defence of Canada's measures. A solution to the dispute has since been reached. AAFC supported Canada's participation as a third party in the dispute settlement proceedings initiated by the United States under the CUSMA regarding the use of genetically modified corn.
• Under the Government of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, AAFC continued to engage in market access and market development initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region, including through the recently established Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO) in the Philippines. The ongoing work of the IPAAO supports Canadian agriculture and agri-food exporters in finding and pursuing new opportunities and helps to position Canada as a preferred supplier in the region. The IPAAO strengthens Canada's economic partnerships, expanding market access in both established and emerging markets, and promoting technical and regulatory cooperation with regional governments in support of trade, investment, and supply chain resilience. In 2024–25, the IPAAO contributed to new access for fresh blueberry exports to Vietnam, heat-treated lumber to the Philippines, expanded pork access and revised pork labelling requirements in Malaysia, and a wheat protocol to maintain access to Indonesia. The IPAAO also worked with provinces and industry associations to conduct outreach in the region in support of trade promotion.
• Additionally, through the Sustainable CAP, under the AgriMarketing Program, 37 projects leveraged a higher cost-share ratio of 70:30 (AAFC: Recipient) to support market diversification to increase the export promotion of Canada's high-quality and safe food by targeting high-growth emerging consumer markets in the following 15 countries in the Indo-Pacific region: Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• At the annual conference of FPT Ministers of Agriculture in July 2024, ministers highlighted the importance of the work to increase exports to the Indo-Pacific region by leveraging Canada's new IPAAO and other FPT and industry resource investments in the region. They also discussed international trade, market diversification, and building the sector's ability to grow and compete in global markets. This included supporting Canada's ongoing trade negotiations with key partners and continuing to promote the benefits of Canada's existing free trade agreements, particularly the CUSMA.
• In the spirit of increasing trade in foreign markets and boosting economic activity in Canada, in July 2024, the department announced more than $6 million for Canada Beef and the Canadian Cattle Association. This investment aims to drive the growth of Canada's beef industry through promotional activities that increase awareness and demand for Canadian beef in existing and new markets.
• The department remained dedicated to advancing Government of Canada trade negotiations by promoting the rigour of Canadian systems, best practices, and policies on food safety and sustainability. Ongoing free trade agreement negotiations with various partners, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, aim to maintain and secure open, rules-based trade, diversify supply chains, and provide preferential market access. AAFC has been able to promote and defend Canada's agricultural trade interests as demonstrated by the conclusion of trade negotiations with Indonesia in December 2024 and Ecuador in February 2025. Canada continues to advance negotiations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and is engaging in discussions towards Costa Rica's accession to the CPTPP.
• The department continued to advocate for Canadian agriculture and agri-food interests at international fora like the WTO, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the G7, the G20, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This included hosting FAO officials in Canada for the Informal North American Regional Conference in April 2024. These meetings addressed trade issues, technical barriers, and promoted sustainability and food security. Additionally, the department worked with international bodies to develop science-based standards and recommendations, focusing on animal health, electronic certification, and ensuring a rules-based global marketplace for Canadian exporters.

Scientific and innovative research is necessary to maintain the longer-term sustainability and competitiveness of Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector. In 2024–25, the department's world class research centres' agricultural research and innovation worked to create opportunities for the sector designed to increase productivity, mitigate risks, including risks from a changing climate, and tackle environmental challenges. By leveraging collaborative relationships with industry, academia, and other federal, provincial, and territorial partners, the department strengthened its capacity in new areas of research, aligned with the priority areas of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).

Results are assessed by measuring the level of collaboration or citation involved in departmental scientific publications. Publication rates remained steady in 2024–25 compared to 2023–24, and the number of citations as a proportion of AAFC publications continued to exceed its target. Growing the agricultural knowledge base through scientific research enables the development of innovative products, processes, and practices that can help the sector address critical challenges, while contributing to the Government of Canada's broader economic and environmental goals. Some highlights of the department's results in this area for 2024–25 are provided below.

Results achieved

• AAFC's Strategic Plan for Science continued to guide science and research efforts within the department towards knowledge and solutions to address the challenges of the climate crisis, global food security, and sector productivity in the context of new emerging threats facing the sector. In 2024–25, the department initiated 223 projects under the mission areas of mitigating and adapting to climate change, increasing the resiliency of agro-ecosystems, advancing the circular economy, and accelerating the digital transformation of the sector.
• Initiatives under the Foundational Science and Research Program focused on transdisciplinary research to increase the sector's knowledge base in the areas of primary agriculture, processing, cropping systems for Northern and Indigenous communities, and value-added food and industrial products. Examples include fertilizer management processes to reduce nutrient losses in the fall, investigating the use of slightly acidic electrolyzed water as a method for decontaminating produce, revitalizing access to culturally significant foods using an agroecology approach to understanding food systems and engagement and relationship-building with Indigenous partners to co-develop distinctions-based methods to advance their priorities.
• Through the AgriScience Program, the department supported pre-commercial science activities by mobilizing partnerships among industry, government, and academia. These collaborations focus on addressing climate change and environmental challenges, promoting economic growth and development, and enhancing sector resilience to societal challenges. In 2024-25, 27 projects were funded under the program, collectively valued at $22.8 million. For example, funding was provided for a project to help Saskatchewan fruit growers become more competitive and resilient amid extreme weather events. Additionally, a research cluster was supported to investigate how diverse crop rotations can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while improvements in genetics, land management, and fertilizer use aim to enhance nitrogen use efficiency. Beginning in 2023–24, under the Sustainable CAP, the program made available $5 million for project proposals from Indigenous applicants, resulting in increased inclusivity by adapting the application requirements to be more flexible and offering the possibility of a more favourable cost-share ratio. In addition, working with the department's Indigenous Science Liaison Office (ISLO), AAFC continued to implement an inclusive-by-design approach to application adjudication for Indigenous-led research, development, and technology transfer projects.
• The department continued to collaborate with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council on the Sustainable Agriculture Research Initiative to support research that initiates or accelerates the development of solutions for a sustainable, resilient, and profitable agriculture sector in a net-zero economy. In 2024, 16 projects were funded for a total of $87.5 million over 4 years, bringing together over 165 collaborators from across the country. In addition, $1.9 million was awarded to Dalhousie University to launch the Common Ground Network, a social science research network promoting collaboration between academic institutions, research institutes, Indigenous communities, non-governmental organizations, industry and producers to advance sustainability in Canada's agriculture sector and food systems.

AAFC continued supporting scientific research to assist the sector in bridging the gap between research and commercialization, and in mitigating the risks inherent in applying new technologies to commercial-level production. Efforts to transform ideas into products, processes or practices serve to strengthen sector competitiveness and enable Canadian producers and processors to keep pace with demand for sustainability attributes in agri-food products.

Over the first 2 years of Sustainable CAP, 2023-24 and 2024–25, 111 new innovations were made available for transfer to the sector. Departmental results in this area assess the effectiveness of transforming ideas or adopting new innovations, which influence other metrics such as sector productivity, revenue, and agri-environmental health. Some highlights of the department's results in this area for 2024–25 are provided below.

Results achieved

In alignment with the broader Government of Canada priority of stakeholder engagement to inform policy development, the department held a meeting in November 2024 on interoperability, and the right to repair farm equipment. Improving these areas helps producers reduce downtime, foster innovation, and promote fair competition to further strengthen the agricultural sector. Participants discussed challenges with complex machinery and limited repair access. Key themes included boosting innovation and productivity, the need for a national approach, and equitable access for independent repair providers. Stakeholders emphasized standardization, collaboration, and legislative frameworks that ensure open access while maintaining safety and security.

• Additionally, AAFC continued to incent innovation in advanced manufacturing, automation, robotics, and digitization through the AgriInnovate Program. This included investing over $18.66 million across 7 projects in 2024–25, 1 of which will demonstrate Canada's first fully novel greenhouse technology designed to produce high-quality leafy greens locally, year-round. This scalable model will highlight the profitability and sustainability of controlled environment agriculture for year-round production of leafy greens in Canada.
• The department also continued to support farmers to increase soil carbon sequestration, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve resiliency to climate change through the 2 streams of the Agricultural Climate Solutions Program (ACS), the living labs and the On-Farm Climate Action Fund.
• Over 100 unique BMPs were reported as being under development, including, but not limited to: fertilizer management; improved manure application, soil amendments, and green manure; tillage management, integrated crop-livestock management; cover crops, intercropping, polycropping and rotations; grazing and pasture management; manure treatment and storage; cattle feeding strategies; and restoration and avoided loss of natural features. Since the start of the initiative, over 450 organizations and associations and over 500 producers have been engaged in a nationwide network of 14 living labs.
• The ACS On-Farm Climate Action Fund (OFCAF) stream continued to attract new producers in 2024–25. To date, thousands of farmers across Canada, including Métis producers, have participated in the program, taking action on their farms by implementing eligible cover cropping, nitrogen management and rotational grazing BMPs. In January 2025, AAFC announced the allocation of $300 million for an expansion phase (2025 to 2028) to continue to help farmers become climate resilient. During 2024–25, 11 initial recipients and 2 selected organizations in Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador submitted plans for the expansion phase. The additional funding will also support the immediate on-farm adoption and data collection of promising, merit-based BMPs with potential greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction or carbon sequestration benefits.
• Through the Agricultural Clean Technology Program, the department supported the development and adoption of clean technologies through 534 projects aimed at helping farmers reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change using innovative solutions. To date, producers have adopted a range of clean technologies like energy-efficient grain dryers, fuel and solar transition technologies, precision agriculture equipment, and anaerobic digester systems. In 2024–25, the program approved 25 projects under its Research and Innovation stream, valued collectively at $20.5 million, while 59 projects were approved under the Adoption stream, with a value exceeding $64.8 million. These projects have enabled the development, purchase, and installation of transformative clean technologies that support a low-carbon economy and promote sustainable growth in Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector. In 2024-25, the Research and Innovation Stream launched a pilot accelerator initiative to provide funding for not-for-profit business accelerators, incubators, and networks that will support business start-ups and other organizations in clean technology development, product demonstration and early adoption.
• In summer 2024, 13 semi-finalists were announced for AAFC's Agricultural Methane Reduction Challenge, which promotes innovative, low-cost, scalable solutions to reduce methane emissions from cattle and livestock. The challenge, launched in late fall 2023, received 86 applications from across Canada and abroad. The semi-finalists' projects included feed additives and related technologies, production efficiencies, animal management systems, and pasture and grazing approaches. Each semi-finalist received up to $153,846 to develop prototypes, and may qualify for additional funding up to $230,000. By spring 2026, up to 10 finalists will be selected, each receiving up to $500,000 to test their solutions. In the final stage, finalists will compete for 2 grand prizes of up to $1 million, awarded by the end of 2028.
• AAFC continued to work on the development of a Sustainable Agriculture Strategy to set a direction for action to improve environmental performance in the sector over the long-term advancing the sustainability, competitiveness, and vitality of the agriculture sector. In June 2024, the official mandate of the Sustainable Agriculture Strategy Advisory Committee (SAS-AC), including the Fertilizer Emissions Working Group, concluded.
• The cost-shared Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) continued to maximize public benefits and reduce barriers to adopting beneficial on-farm land use and management practices through innovative payment approaches. In 2024–25, producers maintained and restored grasslands and wetlands, and enhanced riparian and on-farm wildlife areas — maximizing ecological goods and services while supporting the conservation and resilience of agricultural landscapes tailored to local conditions and regional needs.
• Finally, AAFC continued working collaboratively to enable and support the agri-food sector's contributions to Canada's biodiversity commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by engaging with the sector and Environment and Climate Change Canada to advance the development and implementation Canada's 2030 Nature Strategy.

The agriculture and agri-food sector's prosperity reflected the broader resilience of producers amid ongoing environmental and market pressures. The sector faced complex risks, including extreme weather events, rising production costs, trade disruptions, and ongoing threats from disease outbreaks and pest infestations. These challenges underscored the importance of equipping producers with the tools needed to anticipate, mitigate, and respond to risks effectively.

Through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), AAFC worked closely with provincial and territorial governments to deliver a comprehensive suite of programs that supported producers in managing risks beyond their control, safeguarding business continuity, and fostering long-term growth. This collaborative approach strengthened the sector's capacity to navigate uncertainties while upholding Canada's reputation for producing safe, sustainable, and high-quality food. The department also supported industry-led initiatives to develop assurance systems addressing consumer demands and public trust concerns, reinforcing sector resilience, and building confidence in the Canadian agricultural supply chain.

Sector resilience was assessed using sector income as a proportion of historical income and the percentage of financially healthy farms. These efforts aligned with the Minister's mandate letter commitments to strengthen supply chains, address labour shortages, and modernize business risk management programs. Some key departmental results for 2024–25 are outlined below.

Results achieved

• In 2024–25, under the Sustainable CAP, AAFC provided comprehensive Business Risk Management (BRM) programs designed to help agricultural producers manage the risks that could impact their farm operations. These programs delivered critical support to producers, safeguarding their livelihoods and contributing to the sector's resilience in a challenging environment. See highlight box below for more details.

Assurance systems encompass practices, standards, processes, and procedures that instill confidence in the effective management of risks within the food supply chain. These systems enable producers to verify that their products meet specific criteria and regulatory requirements or adhere to particular production methods, such as those related to sustainability, organic certification, or religious dietary standards like halal and kosher. By implementing these systems, the sector can adapt to evolving consumer, market, and regulatory demands, thereby enhancing the reputation and credibility of Canadian producers both domestically and internationally, and contributing to the sector's overall resilience.

Departmental results in this area are assessed using an indicator that measures the percentage of implementation plans for assurance projects reported to be functioning. To support these outcomes, AAFC continued to work with the agriculture and agri-food sector to develop and maintain systems, standards, and tools that strengthen risk management and food safety while ensuring product quality aligns with market expectations, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

Results achieved

The department continued its commitment to enhancing assurance systems within the agriculture and agri-food sector. Through the AgriAssurance program, AAFC supported the development of systems that meet consumer concerns as well as market and regulatory requirements, thereby bolstering the reputation of Canadian agricultural products for health, safety, and quality. This initiative, detailed below, aligned with federal, provincial, and territorial cost-shared programming to ensure comprehensive integration across the value chain.

AAFC's AgriAssurance Program facilitated several of the following key projects during 2024–25 such as:

• Enhancing Dairy Sector Standards: In July 2024, more than $8.5 million was committed to projects, led by Dairy Farmers of Canada, to improve sustainability and food safety standards within the dairy industry, helping to ensure continued access to domestic and international markets.
• Strengthening Animal Health and Welfare: In October 2024, up to $13.3 million over 5 years was announced for Animal Health Canada to support 3 initiatives under the AgriAssurance Program. These projects aim to strengthen disease surveillance, improve emergency response strategies, and enhance animal care standards — contributing to a more resilient agricultural sector. This investment supports a One Health approach, which acknowledges the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, and promotes cross-sector collaboration to safeguard public health and food security.
• Promoting Canadian Beef Excellence: In November 2024, more than $5.4 million was invested in projects supporting sustainability, animal welfare, and market access for Canadian beef producers. These efforts helped position Canada's beef industry as a global leader in high-quality, responsibly produced meat.

Beyond industry support, AAFC worked closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to advance the development and implementation of assurance systems. Key areas of focus included:

• Food safety recognition: strengthening food safety standards to align with regulatory requirements and support market access
• Livestock traceability: enhancing industry and government traceability systems to improve data quality and completeness, disease response, and food safety; facilitating the signing of the provincial multilateral information-sharing agreement; and ensuring the provincial system integration into a central Traceability National Information Portal
• Biosecurity and disease surveillance: developing and updating national biosecurity standards to protect plant and animal health from emerging risks

In order to mitigate the risks associated with African Swine Fever (ASF), through the ASF Industry Preparedness Program, AAFC advanced efforts in 2024–25 to enhance biosecurity measures, improve disease surveillance, and strengthen response planning in collaboration with industry and government partners. These actions aimed to safeguard Canada's pork industry and maintain market stability. Following a 1-year extension to respond to the industry's request for more time to complete major capital investments, the ASF Industry Preparedness Program ended on March 31, 2025.

The program supported 44 projects totalling nearly $15.5 million, spanning 5 priority areas including: biosecurity assessment and improvement, sector analysis and engagement, research projects, processor retrofits, and regional preparedness for welfare slaughter and disposal of surplus healthy hogs. These projects resulted in increased depopulation capacity, enhanced provincial emergency preparedness and disposal capacity, and the implementation of wild boar control measures. The program had a significantly positive impact on ASF preparedness and mitigation across the country.

Significant progress was also made in developing a new cost-shared program to prepare for a potential ASF outbreak in Canada, ensuring a coordinated response framework to protect the swine industry and related sectors. In March 2025, AAFC announced a commitment of up to $567.16 million to support hog producers in the event of major export market closures for Canadian pork and live pigs from an ASF outbreak in Canada or the United States.

These targeted investments helped strengthen the sector's resilience against ASF threats and reinforced Canada's commitment to disease prevention and risk management.