Phase 2 of the Agri-Food Risk Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the opportunities and challenges facing the sector. Building on Phase 1, this report draws insight from four dialogues with industry leaders, policy makers and other stakeholders.

The aim of the Agri-Food Risk Report, including the survey and dialogues, was to better understand the drivers of optimism and the perception of risks and to assess their impacts on the future of the agri-food policy landscape in Canada. The results highlight an increasing need to think differently about agriculture policy and point to some of the opportunity costs of the status quo.

That status quo reflects a policy framework that was a major accomplishment when it was agreed to 25 years ago but has not kept pace with changes in the sector since then. It includes an apparent consensus that better is possible, but a resignation that better may not be achievable.

Two key themes emerged on what is needed for the sector to move forward, address current risks, realize opportunities and perhaps create a more grounded sense of optimism based on shared goals, clear roles and realistic expectations:

1. We need a meaningful national agriculture policy framework to realize opportunities and drive growth and sustainability for the sector.
2. As part of a national policy framework, we need a cohesive approach to risk management, which accounts for the realities of our rapidly changing environment and our capacity and limitations in addressing threats.

This project was funded in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership’s AgriCompetitiveness Program and supported by the Global Institute for Food Security

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