Article – I’ve never seen agriculture transform from a quiet policy corner to a central economic battleground quite like today. The stakes couldn’t be higher as Canada’s new Agriculture Minister, Lawrence MacAulay, lays out ambitious plans to boost Canadian food exports worldwide while tackling longstanding domestic barriers.
“We have to get the right strategy in place now,” MacAulay told me during a recent interview at his Ottawa office. “While other countries are aggressively building their agricultural export capacity, we have an incredible opportunity with our reputation for quality and safety that we can’t afford to miss.”
The timing couldn’t be more critical. Global food security concerns have heightened following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s growing food imports, and climate disruptions affecting harvests worldwide. Canada currently exports approximately $82 billion in agriculture and food products annually, but industry experts suggest this could reach $100 billion by 2028 with the right policy framework.
What makes this export strategy different from previous attempts is its focus on removing domestic barriers first. Canadian farmers have long complained about regulatory burdens that their American and Australian competitors don’t face.
“The hardest part isn’t selling Canadian products abroad – it’s getting them to market efficiently in the first place,” explains Marty Davidson, a fifth-generation grain farmer from Saskatchewan. “We’re competing with countries that have invested billions in logistics and processing capacity while we debate basic infrastructure.”
MacAulay acknowledges these frustrations. His strategy aims to address three key obstacles: transportation bottlenecks, processing capacity gaps, and regulatory harmonization between provinces.
The transportation challenge became painfully evident during recent railway disruptions that cost prairie grain farmers millions in lost sales and penalties. Unlike the United States, where multiple transportation options exist, Canadian producers often rely on limited rail capacity controlled by just two major companies.
“When CP Rail workers went on strike last year, I had contracts I couldn’t fulfill and buyers looking elsewhere,” Davidson told me. “Those relationships take years to build and moments to lose.”
The export strategy proposes expanding port capacity in Vancouver and Prince Rupert while creating dedicated agricultural shipping corridors with performance guarantees – something farm groups have requested for decades.
Processing capacity represents another crucial gap. Canada exports tremendous volumes of raw commodities but captures far less of the value-added processing that creates jobs and economic resilience.
“We ship wheat, then buy back pasta at eight times the price,” notes Dominic Barton, former chair of Canada’s economic growth advisory council. “There’s no reason Canada can’t develop world-class food manufacturing capacity with the right investment climate.”
MacAulay’s strategy includes targeted tax incentives for food processors who establish facilities in rural communities, alongside expedited environmental reviews for projects meeting certain sustainability criteria.
Perhaps most intriguing is the plan’s emphasis on breaking down interprovincial trade barriers – a uniquely Canadian problem that has frustrated businesses for generations.
“It’s often easier to sell beef to Japan than from Alberta to Quebec,” jokes Patricia Kim, CEO of Prairie Proteins, a plant-based food manufacturer. “Different provincial standards mean we need multiple production lines for products sold within our own country.”
The strategy proposes a standardized food regulatory framework that provinces would adopt through federal incentives, potentially saving billions in compliance costs.
While the plan’s domestic focus makes sense, global market access remains crucial. With the World Trade Organization system under strain, Canada has pivoted toward bilateral and regional trade agreements. The comprehensive economic trade agreement with the European Union and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership have opened new markets, but implementation challenges remain.
“You can sign all the agreements you want, but unless exporters can navigate them easily, they’re just paper,” explains Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. “The strategy needs a practical approach to help businesses – especially smaller ones – actually use these agreements.”
MacAulay seems to recognize this, pledging to enhance export support services and create digital tools to simplify compliance with international standards.
Climate change adds another layer of complexity. While warming temperatures could extend growing seasons in parts of Canada, extreme weather events and shifting precipitation patterns threaten stability. The strategy includes funding for climate-resilient crop research and carbon sequestration techniques that could become exportable expertise.
Indigenous participation represents another promising area. First Nations-owned agricultural enterprises have grown substantially, with many targeting premium export markets through unique products and sustainable practices.
“Indigenous communities have managed these lands sustainably for thousands of years,” says Thomas Bear, president of Seven Generations Agriculture Cooperative. “Combining traditional knowledge with modern technology creates agricultural approaches perfectly suited for today’s climate challenges.”
What remains unclear is how the strategy will navigate geopolitical tensions affecting key markets like China, which has previously targeted Canadian agricultural exports during diplomatic disputes.
“We need market diversification, not just market access,” warns trade lawyer Cynthia Westaway. “Overreliance on any single market leaves producers vulnerable to political whims.”
The strategy’s success ultimately depends on implementation and funding commitments. Previous agricultural initiatives have sometimes suffered from inconsistent support across election cycles.
As MacAulay put it: “Agriculture isn’t a partisan issue – it’s a Canadian advantage we need to maximize. Every political party should see the economic potential here.”
For farmers like Davidson, the proof will be in practical improvements, not policy documents. “I’ve heard big promises before. What I need is to get my crops to market reliably and at competitive costs.”
Canada stands at an agricultural crossroads – blessed with abundant land and water in an increasingly food-insecure world, yet constrained by domestic bottlenecks and fierce global competition. MacAulay’s export strategy represents perhaps the most comprehensive attempt yet to address these contradictions.
The world needs more food. Canada has the capacity to provide it. The question is whether this strategy can finally bridge the gap between potential and reality.
