Canada trails behind U.S and other countries on agri-food competitiveness: report
A new report ranks Canada behind the U.S., Japan, China and Germany when it comes to competitiveness in the global food and beverage sector.
The Global Agri-Food Most Influential Nations Ranking from Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab, commissioned by MNP, evaluates the G20 nations—positioning Canada at 11th overall.
Canada’s placement in the “Moderate Performance” tier highlights the country’s “strong food security and natural resources,” the report said. But researchers identified gaps in national food strategy, research funding and support for small businesses, as well as challenges in innovation, policy coordination and value-added processing.
"Canada's ranking reflects its potential, but also the need for urgent action. By focusing on innovation and streamlining regulatory processes, we can transform challenges into opportunities to cement our leadership in the global agri-food sector,” Matt MacDonald, national leader for food and beverage processing at MNP, said in a release.
Key areas for improvement as identified in the report include support for entrepreneurs, implementation of a national food strategy that addresses food security challenges and capitalizes on agricultural strengths and investment in research and development across agri-tech, sustainability and value-added processing.
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"Canada’s agri-food sector has immense promise, but to climb the rankings, we need to align resources with a clear strategic vision. Innovation, transparency, and investment in our entrepreneurial ecosystem will be key drivers,” Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab, stated.