Canada’s Innovation Programming for Increased
Collaboration
6th OECD Food Chain Analysis Network: Public-Private Partnerships for Agricultural Innovation
Paris, France October 13-14, 2014
The Canadian agricultural sector has a good foundation for collaboration
Successful collaboration is key to a well-functioning agricultural innovation system:
– Stimulates creativity
– Leverages resources
– Reduces costs
– Provides access to different sources of High Quality People (HQP)
– Serves as an effective knowledge transfer vehicle
– Brings together several disciplines to address complex issues – no one player can do it all
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)’s scientists work with a variety of agricultural
research parties, in Canada and globally, enabling them to participate in, monitor and learn
form cutting-edge work across disciplines
Both virtual and physical “clusters” or networks have been established by a number of
sectors or regions (e.g. Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, Canola
Cluster and Ontario Food Cluster) to meet industry-driven needs
Federal and provincial governments collaborate with agricultural colleges and universities,
private companies as well as other countries.
AAFC approach to research, development and technology transfer
Objective is to improve the agricultural sector’s access to science through
partnerships to reshape our collective approach to Research, Development and
Technology Transfer (RDT)
AAFC focuses on:
• spanning the full innovation continuum to provide seamless services from research and
development to technology transfer;
• ensuring we have the capacity to integrate science and technology transfer to address
the challenges and opportunities of producers and processors; and
• stakeholder engagement: continue building on local and regional relationships with the
science, academic and business communities
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Sector is organized along commodity lines…
Forage and Beef Cereals and Pulses Oilseeds
Horticulture Agri-Food Bioproducts
Dairy, Swine, Poultry
and Alternative
Livestock
Agro-Ecosystem
Productivity and
Health
Biodiversity and
Bioresources
Innovation programming is evolving to foster collaboration and enable greater industry leadership
Mid-90’s - Matching Investment Initiative (MII) – first government/industry jointly
funded collaborative research initiatives
2002-2008 – Agricultural Policy Framework – MII complemented with
programming to support development of sector strategies
2008-2013 – Growing Forward – mobilized sector strategies by providing
funding for sector-led research and more complex collaborations (Developing
Innovative Agri-Products (DIAP) and Clusters)
2013-2018 – Growing Forward 2 – accelerating pace of innovation and
fostering greater industry leadership by increasing investment in sector-led
research and complex collaborations
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Designed to accelerate the pace of innovation by supporting research and development
activities and facilitating the demonstration, commercialization and/or adoption of
innovative products, technologies, processes, practices and services
$698 million initiative that continues, refocuses and/or expands programming that was
available under Growing Forward, as well as bringing together the pre-
commercialization and commercialization stages of innovation:
– $468 million available for funding projects based on applications from industry
– Remaining funds go towards AAFC-led research, development and knowledge transfer
activities, as well as program administration, that complement industry-directed initiatives
Three Streams
– Research Accelerating Innovation
– Industry-led Research and Development
– Enabling Commercialization and Adoption
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Growing Forward 2: AgriInnovation Program
Provide necessary capacity and support to industry-led science and technology projects
to bridge the gap between ideas and discoveries and products in the marketplace
Enable key industry-led agricultural organizations to mobilize a critical mass of scientific
and technical resources to enhance profitability and competitiveness of their sector
Support knowledge transfer of innovative ideas, tools and practices through regionally
relevant and commodity specific approaches that are essential in moving scientific
knowledge into the hands of its intended users, farms and firms
Support in the form of collaborative assistance given by AAFC research scientists and
experts for knowledge transfer
The Industry-led Research and Development portion provides AAFC support and/or
non-repayable contribution funding for two types of projects:
– Agri-Science Projects
– Agri-Science Clusters
Growing Forward 2: AgriInnovation Program Industry-led Research and Development
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Agri-Science Projects
Agri-Science Projects Examples Research Activities
British Columbia Tree Fruit Industry Development of new apple and sweet cherry varieties, as well as improving
disease and pest management practices
Eastern Canada Oilseeds
Development Alliance (ECODA)
Further enhancing the competitiveness of the canola and soybean industries in
Eastern Canada
SaskCanola Blackleg and sclerotinia disease resistance
Soy 20/20 Development of market-ready varieties of Camelina sativa and to help increase
the value of the oil for industrial use.
Mustard 21 Canada Development of new and higher yielding varieties of condiment mustard through
traditional and molecular breeding applications, as well as industrial mustard for
use in the emerging biofuel sector.
Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable
Growers
Development of new products and practices: improvements to yield and produce
quality, as well as to enhance the environmentally sustainable practices of
greenhouse production
Mazza Innovation Ltd. Development and commercialization of innovative extraction technologies that
recover high value molecular components from plants
$468 million available for funding projects based on applications from
industry
A single research project or a smaller set of projects that may be national,
regional or local in scope
Agri-Science Clusters
$283 million for R&D to enable key industry-led agricultural organizations to mobilize a critical
mass of scientific and technical resources in industry, academia and government
National in scope and address several themes that are priorities to the industry under single
application
Commodity based, or may be horizontal where it addresses cross-cutting issues that are of
interest to more than one commodity
Review Process
Application assessment by
AAFC Program Officers
Technical reviews by AAFC
and other experts, if required
Director General Innovation
Committee Recommendation
AAFC starts working
with applicants Agreements are put in
place
Minister
Concurrence
Minister Non
Concurrence
Agri-Science Clusters by Commodity
Sector Research Activities
Barley A new research cluster to help increase demand for Canadian barley
Canola Canola oil and meal nutrition and production (Canola Council)
Pulse Development of new varieties, improved agronomic practices, respond to consumer demand for healthier foods and contribute to
potential health claims linked to pulse consumption
Beef Beef quality and safety, animal health and welfare, feed production and utilization, and environmental sustainability
Field Crops Development of new corn, soybean, barley and oat varieties, improved agronomic practices, respond to consumer demand for
healthier foods and help producers compete in global markets
Dairy Sustainable milk production, dairy genetics and genomics, and human nutrition and health
Grains Development of higher-yielding wheat varieties with enhanced disease and insect resistance; and, adapting varieties for different
regions
Poultry Development of new vaccines to reduce the environmental footprint of poultry farms and to provide poultry farmers access to
high-calibre training opportunities
Horticulture Reduction of crop input costs while improving marketable yield and margins for apple and potato growers
Swine Help the sector keep pace with changing consumer demands, enhance disease resilience and continue focusing on animal
welfare measures
Organics Help the sector respond to market demand and capture new opportunities
Bioindustrial Help bridge the gap between research and market-ready products by connecting technology development projects from across
Canada
Agri-Science Cluster Example: Pulses
Co-Recipient Names: Pulse Canada and Saskatchewan Pulse Growers
Project Cost:
– AAFC Funding up to $13.3M (includes $6.5M for AAFC research)
– Industry Share of $5.1M from 8 industry partners
Estimated Completion Date: March 31, 2018
Research Objectives:
– Genetic Improvement and Maximizing Genetic Gain in Pulse Crops
– Improved Agronomic Practice
– Pulse Processing Knowledge Building for Food Applications
– Pulse Consumption Effects on Human Health Outcomes
19 Research Activities
Research Participants:
– 11 AAFC research labs in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario
– 1 provincial research facility in Alberta
– 4 university labs in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario
Agri-Science Cluster Example: Horticulture
Recipient Name: Canadian Horticultural Council
Project Cost:
– AAFC funding up to $6.8M (includes $1.2M for AAFC research)
– Industry share of $2.8M
Estimated Completion Date: March 31, 2018
Research Objectives:
– Post-harvest management and optimization of apples
– Weather based prediction models
– Variety evaluation
– Pest and disease management in potatoes
10 Research Activities
Research Participants:
– AAFC research labs in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island
– Provincial research facilities in Alberta and Ontario
– Private research facilities in Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island
– University labs in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario
Looking ahead
Recognize the need for ongoing engagement to establish and adjust RDT activities in
relation to government and industry priorities
Analyse best practices of public-private partnership models
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Contact Information:
Paula Negraes
Senior Policy Analyst, Innovation
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada