At a Turning Point: Canada’s Agricultural R&D
Note from CAPI
Canada’s agricultural research and development (R&D) system has driven prosperity for decades. Today, however, the system faces significant challenges. Public funding is declining, research efforts are fragmented, and incentives do not align well with production and societal needs. External forces such as climate change, trade tensions, and rapid technological shifts are reshaping agricultural research demands beyond the system’s current capacity.
This report seeks to build a shared understanding among stakeholders about these challenges. It raises key questions: Are the problems we face well understood? Is it time to reconsider the status quo? How should anticipated funding cuts and external disruptions inform future directions?
This report is part of a CAPI initiative exploring the future of Canada’s agricultural R&D system, aiming to foster inclusive, evidence-informed dialogue about potential reforms. This and other reports, dialogues and communications, encourage reflection on the role the agriculture R&D system needs to play in helping Canadian agriculture and agri-food achieve its full potential.
The goal is not to develop solutions immediately but to create space for honest and productive dialogue about change. This starts with the need for a clearer picture of where things stand, what a 21st century ag innovation system looks like, and what it takes to transition from the status quo to the future.
Key Takeaways
- Canada’s agricultural R&D system, once a driver of prosperity, now faces challenges such as fragmented coordination, outdated infrastructure, private sector underinvestment, and weak research-to-farm pathways.
- Engaging stakeholders in dialogue is the essential first step to understand the system’s flaws. Without a common understanding of the challenges, proposed solutions risk being ineffective.
- Mapping the current state of R&D against a future vision provides a structured approach to guide meaningful system reform.
- Articulating a clear purpose for agricultural R&D determines the scale of transformation needed to meet 21st-century needs.
- Without changing current structures and incentives, the system’s outcomes will remain the same despite pressing needs for improvement.