Ottawa-The funding of basic agricultural research in Canada by provincial and federal governments has waned, says a statement from Agri-Food Economic Systems Inc.

The result is a widening gap between the needs and opportunities for agricultural research in Canada, the shifting global food security situation and Canada’s place in it, the statement said.

“Remarkable innovations are possible from basic agricultural research, and Canadian agricultural research can claim some major successes.” However, the funding of basic research is not keeping up.

Food is increasingly scarce in the world and the gap has been filled by drawing down global stocks and has left an increasing number hungry. The most recent Global Report on Food Crises reported that “More than 295 million people across 53 countries and territories experienced acute levels of hunger– an increase of 13.7 million from 2023.”

Conflict in many parts of the world, stresses of weather extremes on agricultural systems, and economic shocks were identified as the proximate causes.

Increasing international demand for food and higher prices have increased the size of the Canadian agri-food economy. Compared with 2015-18 averages, the most recent four years have seen a 49 percent increase in the value of Canadian agri-food exports, and a 42 percent increase in Canadian farm cash receipts.

While agricultural production continues to grow globally, the rate of growth is slowing. Among the reasons for this is decreasing growth in agricultural total factor productivity, exacerbated by the adverse effects of climate change.

More generally, lax funding of public agricultural research is inconsistent with a much larger Canadian agricultural economy and one that faces unique opportunities in the shifting geo-political and climate change context.

It is equally inconsistent with private sector investment in more applied agricultural research and focused innovation in Canada that builds upon a base of basic public agricultural research.

“Canada faces an important, distinct opportunity. The world is hungry, many are in desperate need, and the need will grow.”

Canada faces an important, distinct opportunity. The world is hungry, many are in desperate need, and the need will grow. There are few countries with agricultural capacity and outlook for climatic stability that can be a material provider of exportable surpluses of agri-food products.

Economic shocks, both driven by a less friendly internationaltrade environment and a cause of protectionism, have left food importing countries more exposed and in greater need of trusted suppliers.

“Canada has not augmented its basic agricultural research investment accordingly with this shifting context, and its existing agricultural output and total factor productivity growth is essentially riding on legacy public research investments, some made decades ago. At the same time, other countries- some of whom are competitors to Canada – have accounted for the bulk of public agricultural research globally and are positioning themselves to surpass Canada.

Canada should reinvest in longer-term internal research in government research stations, and in the associated capital infrastructure. Renewing a commitment to increased public agricultural research in Canada, linked to research establishments around the world, should thus be both a strategic, as well as a technical, priority for Canada.

The report was prepared by Ted Bilyea, Al Mussell and Douglas Hedley.

This news report prepared for National Newswatch