Earlier this month, the National Farmers Union (NFU) issued a news release supporting the Parliamentary Agriculture Committee’s unanimous recommendation to reverse Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research cuts. According to the release, on May 6, the Parliamentary Agriculture Committee presented its report on Science in Canadian Agriculture and the Closure of Research Centres to the House of Commons. It recommends that the Government of Canada “pause and reverse the decision to close agricultural research centres and experimental farm sites” and “reconsider its decision to cancel the organic and regenerative program at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre.”
It further recommends “that the Government ensure that valuable scientific expertise, research capacity, and ongoing research are preserved and not lost, and that decisions be accompanied by greater transparency and the timely sharing of information.” Phil Mount, Vice-President of Policy with the NFU, said that cutting the funding only saves a small amount, and the cost is much greater to Canadian producers.
"The cuts would save a small amount of money, and the cuts are largely to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's research budget and research stations across the country. It would be cutting seven research stations, saving really a very small amount of money in relative terms and yet having an outsized impact on agricultural research that's happening right now, and that would be significant for our future in this country.”
Although most people see farming as the simple act of putting seed in the ground and reaping the harvest later in Autumn, the reality truly is that millions of dollars and countless hours of work go into the research and development of agriculture to ensure the best result for crops once it’s time to fire up the combine. Mount said that research into plant breeding has been rooted in agriculture for as long as producers have been seeding.
“You know, we're not just talking about some historical value that has been produced over time. This is ongoing research that continues to find new seeds that adapt to new changes. Like the farmers on the prairies, the vast majority of them (are still) using seed produced through public plant breeding. This is ongoing and a huge value that we're putting at risk. And, you know, public plant breeding has been the backbone of our agricultural economy for 140 years.”
Cutting funding to these research facilities harms producers through various channels, including environmental sustainability, soil health, and animal health. This funding is invaluable to the success of agriculture for this year and years to come and would result in roughly $20 million per year savings for the government. Not only that, but producers and taxpayers have paid for this funding for decades and will not see the continued fruits of their labour. Mount said that's why it was easy for the committee to come to a unanimous decision against these cuts.
“The government is going to take a while to move this over and produce a response. But I have to say, you know, in recent memory, we haven't seen anything like this; a significant piece of policy being reversed by a committee comprised of all parties (Liberal, Conservative, Bloc Québécois, etc.) It warmed the cockles of my heart to see, you know, folks across all parties set aside any differences and judge this on its merits.”
The Committee sent 20 recommendations reflecting the compelling evidence presented by witnesses and written briefs from agricultural organizations, communities, research organizations, and workers' unions. The AAFC and Minister Heath MacDonald will have up to 120 days to provide a response.
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