This week, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and other members of Parliament will fan out across Canada making Growing Forward announcements that will highlight the benefits of Canada's new agricultural policy framework, Growing Forward 2. Growing Forward 2 is set to capitalize on the gains made under its predecessor by doubling its cost-shared funding for strategic initiatives including innovation, competitiveness, and market development.
"Growing Forward 2, like its predecessor, will keep Canadian farmers and processors on the right track—a track of growth and prosperity," said Minister Ritz. "Research, innovation, and market development will continue to be hallmarks of Growing Forward 2 so that industry is well positioned to respond to challenges and capitalize on opportunities in the future."
In addition to ongoing generous multi-year funding for business risk management programs, Growing Forward 2 will see federal, provincial, and territorial (FPT) governments investing $3 billion in strategic initiatives for innovation, competitiveness, and market development. Growing Forward 2 is an important FPT partnership to build sector productivity, profitability, and competitiveness to ensure long-term prosperity.
Agricultural policies and programs continually evolve and adapt to support the changing needs of the industry and to reflect ongoing dialogue with the sector. FPT governments are currently finalizing the details of the cost-shared Growing Forward 2 programs, with a focus on strategic investments in areas that contribute to the economy and to farmers' bottom lines.
Growing Forward 2 is the result of an agreement by the FPT ministers of agriculture in Whitehorse on September 14 on the five-year policy framework. It sets the stage for FPT governments to complete bilateral agreements so programs will be in place by April 1, 2013, when the current Growing Forward policy framework expires.
FPT ministers are committed to ongoing stakeholder consultation to seek input and partnership on strategic investments, and governments are engaging in ongoing consultations with farmers and agricultural stakeholders.
