Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, also referred to as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) (French: Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada), is the department of the Government of Canada with responsibility for policies governing the production, processing, and marketing of all farm, food, and agri-based products. It is commonly called Ag-Canada.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada
Department overview
Formed1868 (1868)
JurisdictionCanada
Minister responsible
Deputy Minister responsible
  • Chris Forbes
Child agencies
Websiteagriculture.canada.ca

The current Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is Marie-Claude Bibeau. The current Deputy Minister is Chris Forbes.

Agriculture is a shared jurisdiction in Canada, and the Department works closely with provincial and territorial governments in the development and delivery of policies and programs. The Department is also responsible for ensuring collaboration with its portfolio partners which are also involved in regulating and supporting Canadian agriculture.[1]

History and structure

The Department of Agriculture for Canada was formed in 1867. It was organized under the Department of Agriculture Act, which was passed by Parliament and given royal assent on 22 May 1868.[2]

The first minister of agriculture, the Honourable Jean-Charles Chapais,[3] and his deputy, Dr. Joseph Charles Taché, were soon presenting important Bills to the House of Commons for the protection and improvement of Canadian agriculture. One of the first Bills was an Act Respecting Contagious Diseases of Animals, passed in 1869. This Act gave the Chief Veterinary Inspector, Prof. Duncan McEachran, who was also Dean of Medicine at McGill University, authority to prevent the introduction of animal diseases into Canada.[2]

In addition to agriculture, the Minister and the department had many other wide-ranging national responsibilities including immigration, public health, censuses and statistics, patents, copyrights, and trademarks. Over time, these other responsibilities were transferred to other departments. For example, the collection of statistics was transferred to the Dominion Bureau of Statistics in 1918, and healthcare in Canada was transferred to the Department of Health when it was created in 1919.[4]

In 2013, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was moved from the Agriculture Portfolio to the Health Portfolio.[5]


Today, organizations for which the minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is responsible for include:

Acts and regulations

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is responsible for a number of Acts related to agriculture and food in Canada.[6]

  • Agricultural Marketing Programs Act
  • Agricultural Products Marketing Act
  • Animal Pedigree Act
  • Canada Grain Act
  • Canadian Agricultural Loans Act
  • Canadian Dairy Commission Act
  • Canada Grain Act
  • Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Act
  • Experimental Farm Stations Act
  • Farm Debt Mediation Act
  • Farm Credit Canada Act
  • Farm Income Protection Act
  • Farm Products Agencies Act
  • Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act

Research
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Saskatoon Research Centre on the Campus of the University of Saskatchewan

As part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Science and Technology Branch (French: Direction générale des sciences et de la technologies) has the mandate to propose solutions and opportunities based on science to support competitiveness and the sustainability of the agriculture and agri-food sector. It is also in the Branch's mandate to provide scientific information to inform departmental and governmental decision processes.

Under the Experimental Farm Stations Act dating back to 1886, farm stations across Canada were established, including the Central Experimental Farm. The officers of these stations had the duty of conducting research in a number of specific areas pertinent to agricultural productivity and conservation, and of making the results of such research known by publication.

Today, the Science and Technology Branch includes a national network of 20 Research and Development Centres and 30 satellite research locations.[7] The Science and Technology Branch has approximately 2,200 employees, including some 400 research scientists.

The goal of all activities is to address the major scientific challenges facing 21st century agricultural production systems:

  • Increasing agricultural productivity,
  • Enhancing environmental performance,
  • Improving attributes for food and non-food uses,
  • Addressing threats to the agriculture and agri-food value chain.[8]

Industry support

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is also responsible for supporting corporate and local agricultural producers and suppliers. They do this through a variety of programs and services including Agri-Geomatics which develops products and services for internal and external users, and program facilitation.

The department supports market growth through its market access and trade negotiation activities, and it works with Canada's provinces and territories to promote Canadian products. The department also supports industry by focusing on science and technology advances and helping producers mitigate risks.[9]

Notable People from AAFC on Wikipedia

Botany

Cereals and Pulses

Climate Change, Sustainable Agricultural Practices, and Nutrient Cycling

Earth Observation

Food Processing

Horticulture

Pest Management

Plant Genetics

Livestock

Mycology and Plant Pathology

Oil Seeds

Soil Fertility

See also

References
  1. "About". Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  2. Anstey, T.H. One Hundred Harvests: Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, 1886-1986. Canadian Government Publishing Centre. ISBN 0-660-12036-4.
  3. Désilets, Andrée, and Skikavich, Julia. "Jean-Charles Chapais". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 29 July 2021.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. "Canada's Health Care System [Health Canada, 2011]". Health Canada. Retrieved 2012-05-02.
  5. "Canadian Food Inspection Agency Joins Health Portfolio [Health Canada, 2013]". Health Canada. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  6. "Acts and Regulations > Neutral > About Us". Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  7. Canada, Research Centres;Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada ;Government of. "Research centres and collections". www4.agr.gc.ca. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  8. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Agricultural Innovations 2018. http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2018/aac-aafc/A1-33-2018-eng.pdf Retrieved 16 January 2019
  9. "Ministerial Transition Books - Binder 2 Overview of the department and sector". Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
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