Input into Growing Forward 2 policy discussion

Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada invites interested parties to join the discussion on the future of agriculture policy and help develop the next policy framework – Growing Forward 2. 

FOODTECH also encourages participation in this ongoing public consultation, recognizing the significance of agriculture and food manufacturing to this country.  Charting the Way Forward to 2020, a discussion paper, provides the framework for the next agriculture policy and there are a number of references made regarding Canada’s food needs. These include future trends that will shape what food products will be demanded by local and global markets in the years ahead. It also mentions growth in export trade for agri-food products and notes that three quarters of Canadian processed food is sold in the domestic marketplace.

In particular, the policy is focussing on these areas: Competitiveness & Market Growth, and Adaptability & Sustainability. In some cases these terms refer primarily to agriculture, such as “sustainability” that  includes risk management programs targeted to farming operations. However, sustainability can also involve helping processors address consumers concerns about manufacturing foods with lower water and energy inputs, or beter utilization of by-products. Or, it can refer to better managed distribution systems that avoid food waste.  Therefore, it is important to have a robust dialogue with everyone that is intimately connected with our agriculutre and food sector.  This includes producers, processors, input suppliers, distributors, buyers, and sellers of Canada’s agriculture and food products. From these, future policies should reflect the important win-win relationship between agriculture and food, and supporting sectors, helping to create conditions that strengthen these economically valuable connections.  

A number of consultations have ocucred across the country, with a few sessions remaining open. You can also send comments electronically. For background information on Growing Forward 2,  and information on the consultations, go to: http://www.agr.gc.ca/GrowingForward2

What helps the Food Industry innovate?

Recently, there has been much discussion on the need for Canada to do a better job being “innovative”, including the food industry. Overall, Canada doesn’t rank very high on the global index of innovation capacity, placed at 14 compared to 17 nations.  We hear concern that industry investment in R&D (1.06%) is only half of government’s investment (1.9%), but industry is not far off the mark as a percentage of government spending, compared to other G7 countries, (55% vs 63%). Research investment  is only one indicator of innovation performance. Apparently though, Canada does not fare much better with other indicators, such as technology exchange and transfer of knowledge.   

While this data reflects a number of industries, we know that the food sector is in a similar position. At the same time, the food industry is not entirely the same as other manufacturing sectors, with more incremental innovation and shorter turn arounds.  To do a better job at being innovative, what we need is more engaged discussion on how the industry can be supported throughout the innovation process. Innovation can happen at any step along the commercialization continuum – sometimes close to the end. While discovery and other research activities are essential to uncovering new solutions, it is not the only source of innovation.  At the same time, taking a proof of concept through to market entry requires significant effort and investment . Are we aware of where are the gaps and barriers that inhibit more activity in creating innovative food and bio-products and technologies?

Aside from R&D investment, how well do we maximize research outputs, from our own country and from others? Is the industry well positioned to take proven technologies from other countries and adapt them here at home? Does industry have support to manage risk through the so-called “valley of death” from the lab bench, through the scale-up process?

There has been much  focus on “innovation” from a number of federal agencies that support R&D and application of research. The question is…. do we have a good understanding of how industry can best innovate, through the research and technology transfer process?  We encourage everyone that is involved in enhancing “innovation” in the food industry to share their knowledge of what Canada needs to improve its position with respect to Innovation Performance.