Ottawa-The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) has expressed deep concern about the scale and abruptness of cuts affecting federal agricultural research capacity.

Canadian farmers rely on strong, regionally grounded public research to support productivity, innovation and long-term competitiveness, CFA said.

For that reason, the national farm organization will continue to closely monitor developments related to Agriculture Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

It is also seeking greater clarity on the scope and implications of research facility closing and staff cuts for the agriculture sector.

Meanwhile the union representing scientific employees in the federal government is warning that employee cuts at the CFIA are putting food safety, public health and the agri-food sector at serious risk in the name.

The Profession Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) wants immediate public scrutiny of the cuts that are hollowing out the government’s capacity to prevent the spread of foodborne illness, respond to disease outbreaks and protect Canada’s domestic and import/export food systems.

PIPSC President Sean O’Reilly said “These cuts don’t just affect public servants – they affect every Canadian who eats. When you strip away food safety research, inspection capacity and emergency coordination, you increase the risk that disease or contamination goes undetected until people are already sick.”

PIPSC said CFIA has faced chronic staffing shortages for more than a decade even as its workload has steadily increased. The latest cuts significantly worsen an already fragile system.

CFA said it is particularly concerned with “the potential impacts on agricultural production, including the development, availability and resilience of seed supply systems that farmers depend on to adapt to changing climate and market conditions.”

“Decisions of this magnitude raise serious questions about long-term innovation capacity, data continuity and Canada’s ability to support on-farm decision-making and sustainable production growth.”

As more information becomes available, CFA will continue to share updates and insights with its members and partners while stressing the importance of meaningful engagement with farmers and sector stakeholders - particularly as consultations begin on the Next Policy Framework.

“We look forward to working constructively with government to ensure Canada’s agri-food system remains competitive, science-based, and resilient for the future.”

O’Reilly said that “Thousands of food processing plants in Canada have never been inspected. Inspectors are already struggling to keep up with the facilities they’re responsible for today. Expecting fewer staff to do more inspections is simply unrealistic. In the event of a major outbreak, it spells disaster.”

PIPSC estimates the cuts represent the loss of nearly one million hours of food safety and inspection expertise every year. “CFIA has already trimmed the fat – then they cut muscle. These cuts are to the bone.”

“They put the entire food safety system, and the economy it supports, at risk.”

Canada’s food and agriculture sector is worth more than $100 billion annually, while federal investment in CFIA is roughly $1 billion - a return that PIPSC says is being recklessly undermined.

“This is one of the best investments Canadians make,” O’Reilly said. “Why would we cut food safety when it protects lives, livelihoods, and our economy – especially when Canada is looking to diversify its trading partners?”

The risks are not hypothetical. CFIA is currently managing a nationwide recall of more than 300 pistachio products linked to potential Salmonella contamination from imported products. As of early January, multiple brands across Canada have been affected and hospitalizations have been reported.

“These cuts directly impact CFIA’s ability to conduct the investigations that lead to life-saving recalls,” said O’Reilly. “Weakening inspection and surveillance capacity means outbreaks last longer and harm more people.”

PIPSC also warns that the cuts severely undermine Canada’s ability to monitor and respond to animal and zoonotic diseases such as avian influenza, African swine fever, bluetongue, and foot-and-mouth disease - capacity that is essential to protecting public health and maintaining international trade.