CONSULTATIONS TO LEAD TO AGRI-FOOD SCIENCE STRATEGY FOR 21ST CENTURY

KENTVILLE, Nova Scotia, September 22, 2005 - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Andy Mitchell today launched a series of cross-country consultations to set the stage for a new strategy for Canadian Agri-food science and research.

Canada has a proud history of scientific advances in the agri-food sector that has helped keep Canadian producers at the leading edge of agri-food innovation. These consultations will draw together the ideas of Canada’s agri-food science providers, industry stakeholders, academics, innovators, communities and others as building blocks for a new strategic vision for the sector that will reinforce Canada’s leadership in agri-food science and innovation.

“Our ultimate goal is to partner with Canada’s best scientists and innovators to ensure our science investments equip Canada’s producers and processors to remain globally competitive, arm them to continue the drive for improved food quality, and assist them in their role as stewards of the environment,” said Minister Mitchell.

The consultations respond to a commitment Minister Mitchell made on June 23, 2005 to engage the full spectrum of players with interests in the agri-food sector in a comprehensive examination of Canada’s agri-food science priorities.

In announcing the consultations, the Minister established several core principles, including that the department's national investment in science will be maintained at its current level or better, that research and development activities will be generally maintained in all provinces at current levels, that science undertaken will meet the needs of industry as well as take into account regional variances, that departmental initiatives will be integrated with the research and development planning and delivery done by government partners, universities and industry, and departmental initiatives will work to ensure synergy between researchers and to create state-of-the-art facilities.

“The consultations will help participants identify their long and short-term needs, research gaps, overlaps and collaborative opportunities,” says Minister Mitchell. “We’re counting on them to let us know where they think we should be heading, and what sort of investments in science and infrastructure we should be making.”

Regional consultations will take place at 11 locations across Canada throughout the fall. Provincial representatives will be invited to participate in these talks, as well as at the Agriculture Science and Innovation Symposium, to be held in Gatineau on November 22-23. Moreover, federal, provincial and territorial senior executives are scheduled to meet this fall as part of the consultation process.

As well, Canadians across the country are encouraged to contribute to the discussion through the AAFC web site. These consultations will draw together the ideas of Canada’s agri-food science providers, key industry stakeholders, academics, innovators, communities and others as building blocks for a new strategic vision for the sector that will reinforce Canada’s leadership in agri-food science and innovation and a business plan for the Department.

The text of a discussion paper and updates on the consultations will be posted on the AAFC web site at www.agr.gc.ca/science-consultations.

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(Authored and distributed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)