Federal ag minister talks research, Next Policy Framework

Federal agriculture minister Heath MacDonald visited Saskatchewan this week, hitting Saskatoon before going to Regina.

In Saskatoon, MacDonald toured the University of Saskatchewan with a focus on the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, followed by a meeting to discuss the national policy framework.

“I wanted to hear and be specific about the science side of things relevant to the national policy framework,” he said to media on the steps of the Peter MacKinnon Building on campus.

“And so we met with a lot of scientists, obviously, but we also met with stakeholders from other commodities as well.”

The meeting included representatives of research across the agriculture sector, such as the Beef Cattle Research Council, Western Grains Research Foundation, Global Institute for Food Security, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization and Seeds Canada.

There were also those with a tie in to the education side of things, including the dean of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, research chair for applied research at Olds College, the dean of agriculture and food sciences at the University of Manitoba and dean of agriculture and bioresources at the U of S.

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Many different opinions were shared in the meeting, but common themes included regulatory barriers and commercialization of products.

MacDonald summarized the meeting by saying much of the discussion was on improving research collaborations between the federal and provincial governments as well as private and public sectors.

The other focus in the room was on streamlining data, which is key going forward.

“They explained that it’s not just for Canada,” he said.

“But it’s also in competition with other countries that we need to make sure that we’re at the forefront. I think there’s a real opportunity in the research side coming out of this.”

Research was the big topic of focus, with not much brought up about trade, which MacDonald feels the government has a “pretty good handle on.”

With Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement talks soon underway, one of the goals is to protect Canadian agriculture amidst undercertainty. The United States is a necessary market for Canada, and something to protect, but there is opportunity for change, he added.

However, trade diversification is steady ahead with agreements with China, Mexico and Indonesia “starting to work out” for positive market shifts.

To Regina

MacDonald headed to Regina following his day in Saskatoon, with plans to meet with provincial agriculture minister David Marit.

One item on the agenda is research collaboration, such as the future for Indian Head’s agricultural research station, and to discuss the Next Policy Framework.