While Canadian agribusinesses have already successfully started to find new customers, markets for major crops such as wheat, canola, soy and pulses face "barriers to further diversification."

Crop exporters face growing competition

Diversifying Canada’s customer base won’t be easy, FCC says in new report

Canada’s agri-food sector is highly dependent on export markets and efforts to diversify the existing customer base won’t be easy in the coming years because of growing competition, says a new report from Farm Credit Canada. While Canada stands in fifth place among the current agri-food exporting nations and has ambitious plans to move closer to first, it’s

Politics and a renewed vigour of nationalism are making it increasingly difficult for international trade.

Agricultural trade looms as election issue

Farmers, most of whom rely on exports know it, and so does Ottawa as both face rising protectionism

Continuing trade turmoil is top of mind for Canadian farmers and the federal government heading into the October federal election. The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association (WCWGA) is demanding the government bulldoze barriers to Canadian agricultural exports. The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) has issued recommendations to protect and enhance Canadian agriculture and food exports.


“In the dictionary sustainable is a level line. That’s not where we want to be. We’ve got to be beyond sustainable.”


Beyond buzzwords: Ag Excellence panel weighs in on ag export targets

Strong trade agreements, addressing labour shortages, reliable infrastructure, sound ag education and public trust are all key ingredients

Graeme Finn recalls handing a visitor to his farm a handful of soil and asking their thoughts. The Alberta beef producer had World Wildlife Fund representatives there to hear how their Madden-area farm’s grazing practices were benefiting species at risk. “Well, it’s dirt,” Finn recalls them saying. “I said, ‘you’ve got more life forms in

Editorial: But what about the farmers?

The statistic does give you a bit of a jolt: In 2015 tiny Netherlands was No. 3 in world agri-food exports, with Canada way behind in No. 12 spot. That statistic is highlighted in the second report by the Advisory Council on Economic Growth, which was established by Minister of Finance Bill Morneau and led


Hand going through the field

Growing pains for Canada’s agri-food sector

The federal budget injects some new life into Canada’s agricultural industries, but not enough funding or clarity

Canada’s agri-food sector has underachieved for too long. The new federal budget gives the sector the opportunity to reimagine its potential. Finally, Ottawa wants to make the agri-food sector a place to invest and foster innovation. The Liberal government aims to increase Canada’s agri-food exports to at least $75 billion annually by 2025 (from $56

flag of China

China should be focus of food trade efforts

The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance says China is our biggest and best bet for future growth

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay departed on a trade mission to India and Vietnam in late February, just as farm export groups called for more attention on China. The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance says in a new report that China purchased $5.6 billion worth of Canadian farm and food exports in 2016 and has become the


The agri-food sector could add even more to Canada’s economic growth with a concerted public-private effort.

Agri-food sector gets nod from key federal panel

The federal Advisory Council on Economic Growth has tipped agriculture and food as an important opportunity

The agri-food sector has received a big-league endorsement from the federal Advisory Council on Economic Growth. The group gives policy direction to federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau. In a report that will receive plenty of attention around the cabinet table, agri-food is identified as one of eight sectors “where Canada has a strong endowment, untapped

CAFTA’s Claire Citeau says the organization is less enthusiastic about Canada’s trade deal with Europe, unless outstanding issues can be cleared up prior to implementation.


CAFTA less enamoured with Europe trade deal

Deal doesn’t solve trade barriers, making it less attractive to the sector, longtime trade champion says


The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance says its support for a Canada-Europe trade deal is now conditional. The longtime enthusiastic backer of the deal says high tariffs and other headaches won’t be quickly resolved. Claire Citeau, CAFTA’s executive director, told the Commons trade committee that it expected the deal would generate $1.5 billion in new Canadian


The CSCL Globe is one of the largest container ships in the world. New safety measures require verified weights before containers arrive at port, to allow for stable loads at sea.

Verified weight requirements could result in confusion for shippers

Shippers have requested a three-month period with less enforcement to ensure a smooth transition

Agri-food exporters who ship by container have to start providing the shipping lines with a verified weight before the box reaches the port terminal under an international agreement that came into effect July 1. Last year the 162 member countries of the International Maritime Organization agreed to require verified container weights under the Safety of

egg flats

Trade talks set to divide farm communities

Some groups want a trade deal even if it means sacrificing supply management

High-level negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) scheduled for Guam this month have opened a rift in Canada’s farm community that successive governments have tried to prevent. Livestock and grain groups have gone public with a demand the federal government fully engage in the talks and, while they don’t actually say it, essentially be prepared