Emergency Management Framework for Agriculture in Canada

2026

Note on revised edition

Ten years after the release of the original Emergency Management Framework for Agriculture in Canada (2016), federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for agriculture are pleased to introduce the second edition. The updated Framework reflects an evolving emergency management (EM) landscape and underscores the growing links between climate change and agriculture, as well as the need for coordinated action across the entire agriculture and food system.

This second edition broadens the scope from agriculture-specific emergencies to a whole-of-food-system approach, incorporates lessons from the pandemic, and addresses emerging risks such as climate and cyber threats. It strengthens governance, introduces measurable outcomes, integrates equity and Indigenous engagement, and leverages new tools, including geomatics mapping and enhanced cyber security. Overall, it transitions from broad objectives to a more strategic, inclusive, and technology-enabled framework that better positions Canada’s food system to anticipate and withstand future disruptions.

Executive summary

The Emergency Management Framework for Agriculture in Canada establishes a strategic approach to proactively manage risks and enhance the resilience of Canada’s agriculture and food system. It guides federal, provincial, and territorial governments, industry stakeholders, Indigenous partners, and other collaborators in preventing, mitigating, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies.

Purpose and scope

The Framework addresses risks such as severe weather, plant and animal diseases and pests, intentional food contamination, cyberattacks, and trade disruptions. It spans the entire system, from primary agriculture and processing to distribution and retail, recognizing the varying responsibilities of governments.

Its purpose is to provide operational policy guidance on objectives, approach and structure for protecting the system from threats and hazards in the respective jurisdictions of responsibility. It allows each government flexibility to develop its own strategic approach.

Vision

Integrated and collaborative emergency management strengthens prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. This approach promotes resilience, sustainability, and competitiveness in Canada’s agriculture and food system, and supply chains.

Guiding principles

The Framework is built on principles to ensure effective and inclusive emergency management:

• Risk-based focus: Target efforts with the highest impact to prevent and reduce risks.
• Shared responsibilities: Leverage the expertise and resources of governments, municipalities, and stakeholders, including industry.
• Collaboration: Foster integrated action across government, industry, and other stakeholders.
• Clear communication: Share timely and accurate information during emergencies.
• Resilience building: Strengthen the ability to manage challenges and adapt to change.
• Public trust: Build confidence through transparency and accountability.
• All-hazards approach: Address biological, natural and human-induced threats with unified solutions.

Desired outcomes

The Framework aims to achieve three key goals:

1. Enhanced prevention and mitigation - Reduce risks and impacts through early detection, risk assessment, and biosecurity measures.
2. Collaborative action - Improve preparedness and response by fostering joint planning, clear governance, and shared expertise.
3. Building resilience - Strengthen recovery and adaptability through regular risk assessments, preparedness exercises, tools and programs.

Delivering results

Success relies on the commitment of all governments and stakeholders. The Framework includes clear, consistent deliverables for both short and long-term goals, with evolving indicators of success to track progress. Short-term indicators focus on immediate actions, while long-term indicators measure broader and sustained impacts.

Progress will be reviewed annually and reported to FPT ministers of agriculture to ensure priorities are aligned and resources are focused on key needs. By focusing on these priorities, the Framework supports an integrated emergency management approach that will strengthen Canada’s agriculture and food system, ensuring it remains resilient, sustainable, and competitive.

Preamble

Canada’s agricultural operating environment is becoming increasingly complex, with diverse and evolving factors contributing to emergencies. The interconnected nature of Canada’s agriculture and food system, including primary production, food and beverage processing, distribution, food retailing, wholesaling and food service provision, means that disruptions in one area can cascade across the system, affecting trade and economic stability.

While the Framework recognizes the importance of the broader food system, it remains rooted in supporting the agriculture and food sector, which is central to FPT government mandates. By focusing on areas within existing roles and responsibilities, this approach ensures alignment with primary agriculture while acknowledging its important links to the broader food system. Strengthening resilience across these interconnected elements is important to protect Canada’s agricultural and food security from the increasing frequency and severity of emergencies.

FPT governments are committed to protecting Canada’s agricultural resources, and given the changing operating environment, to improving the current approach across the emergency management continuum (prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery).

Recognizing the evolving risks, FPT governments led the development of the renewed 2026 Emergency Management Framework for Agriculture in Canada. This renewed framework recognizes the realities faced by the agriculture and food sectors, and proposes a stronger, more collaborative, all-hazards, whole-of-food-system approach to emergency management, with an increased focus on all four pillars of emergency management. It goes beyond the focus on plant and animal diseases and pests to address both natural and human-induced hazards and disasters, consistent with An Emergency Management Framework for Canada, Canada’s all-hazards approach to emergency management.

Emergency management is most effective when it reflects the combined thinking of governments and stakeholders. Throughout 2024, preliminary consultations on emergency management were conducted, followed by engagement activities with a range of partners related to the renewal of the Framework. This process culminated in a comprehensive public consultation, alongside a symposium held in late 2024 that targeted representatives from across Canada’s agriculture and food system.

By implementing the Framework, Canada’s ability to address risks and emergencies along the continuum from prevention to recovery will be continuously improved, strengthening the resilience, sustainability and competitiveness of the system.