With the constant chatter about artificial intelligence, automated cars and innovation hubs — or “clusters” — around our big city universities, it’s easy to overlook one of Canada’s oldest yet most dynamic sectors: the agrifood sector. Canadian producers are at the cutting edge in the field — developing biomass products that can be used as energy sources, using data and technology to make farming more efficient and environmentally friendly, nurturing new crops, and exploring new foreign markets. Agriculture is a powerful force in the economy, representing nearly 7 percent of GDP and reaching $60 billion in exports in 2015. As the federal and provincial governments discuss the next five-year policy framework, our contributors offer their input on how best to assist this flourishing sector.
