Growing Forward Development of the BC Strategy for
Innovation in Agriculture
Certified Organic Associations of BC
Innovations - 2012 COABC Conference
24 February 2012, Chilliwack
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The Future of Food and Farming: Challenges and Choices for
Global Sustainability, (2011, UK Government Office):
“ This is a unique time in history –
decisions made now and over the
next few decades will disproportionately
influence the future.”
The GF strategic outcomes for non-business risk management programs:
i. A competitive and innovative sector;
ii. A sector that contributes to societies’ priorities; and
iii. A sector that is proactive in managing risk
The BC Ministry of Agriculture, Innovation Unit delivers the following GF initiatives to
Accelerate the Pace of Innovation & Facilitate the Adoption of New Technologies:
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Growing Forward Policy Outcomes
2.1.1 Agri-Innovation Fora
2.1.4 Innovation Commercialization Centre
2.1.5 Technology, Commercialization, and
Competition
2.1.6 Advancing Biobased Opportunities
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Agri-Innovation Fora
- Food Fuel & Fibre System Initiative
• An innovation initiative of the BC Ministry of Agriculture (AGRI),
funded through Growing Forward, a federal/provincial/territorial initiative.
• Focused on the integrated development of food (agriculture,
food processing), fuel (energy) and fibre (agriculture, forestry)
systems to foster innovation in agriculture and to build the
green economy.
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Innovation Commercialization Centre
- Food Innovation Centre of BC
A catalyst for a BC agri-food
industry that is empowered
across the supply chain
with enhanced productivity,
profitability, employment
opportunities and innovation,
and competitiveness on a
global scale.
www.foodinnovationcentre.ca
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Technology, Commercialization & Competition
- Canada BC Agri-Innovation Program
The $1.5 million CBCAIP fund supports projects that lead to innovation
that will enhance profitability and competitiveness throughout the
agriculture and food supply chain.
Businesses, organization and individuals can access up to $250,000
for eligible projects, such as: o Adaptive or applied research
o Development or demonstration of
innovative technologies, processes
or products
o Projects that support the adoption of
product, process or technological
innovation http://www.iafbc.ca/agri-innovation.htm
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Advancing Biobased Opportunities
A wide variety of projects ...
http://www.cowpowerbc.com/
Short to Medium Term Outcomes
Increased awareness of the opportunities and
challenges related to innovation.
Increased access and use of resources that assist
industry to innovate and build a culture of innovation.
Increased industry use of resources to assess
the potential of innovations.
Technology / process demonstrations, to accelerate
adoption of innovation.
AGRI Innovation Unit Approach
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Why a BC Strategy for Innovation in Agriculture?
Globally, across Canada and within BC, the development & adoption
of innovation is increasingly recognized as:
• Critical to the competitiveness and resilience of the agriculture
and food industry
• Fundamental to address challenges such as ensuring food
security and tackling environmental issues.
The need for a BC Strategy for Innovation in Agriculture
crystallized when fostering a culture of innovation was highlighted
as a key policy objective in the federal/provincial/territorial policy
framework, Growing Forward (2010- 2013).
And the focus on innovation will be expanded in the next framework...
Basic
Research
Applied
Research
Prototype
Development
Demonstration
Full Scale
Market Ready
Product DevelopmentMarket
Entry
Market
Development
DISCOVERY
PHASE
PRE-ADOPTION / PRE-COMMERCIALIZATION
PHASE
MARKETING
PHASE
INNOVATION CONTINUUM
Governments/Academia
Industry
Policy Environment
Government Funded Jointly Funded Industry Funded
Government conducted Public-Private Partnerships Industry Delivered
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Why a BC Strategy for Innovation in Agriculture?
The BC Strategy for Innovation in Agriculture is intended to:
1. Identify opportunities for and barriers to innovation in BC agriculture,
food and agri-products sectors;
2. Build collaborations across industry, government and academia
to address these systematically; and,
3. In the longer term, increase innovation capacity.
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How the Strategy will be used?
The BC Strategy for Innovation in Agriculture will be used by:
AGRI to identify, develop and support
initiatives, programs and projects to
foster sector innovation;
Academia to increase effective applied
research collaborations among
researchers and industry;
and,
Industry to inform, develop and support
innovation initiatives and projects.
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Strategy Development Process
– Innovation Advisory Committee –
• Strategy development was initiated in June 2011 when agriculture and food
sector stakeholders formed the Innovation Advisory Committee (IAC) and
participated in two full-day, facilitated sessions in Richmond.
• The IAC has representation from producers, processors, service providers,
distributors, retailers, researchers.
• The Balanced ScorecardTM approach
was used to develop a preliminary vision
and identify key innovation objectives for
BC agriculture, food and agri-products.
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Innovation that:
• Delivers/demonstrates value
(triple bottom line over time)
• Is a proactive part of risk management
• Is demand driven and value chain
focused
Agri-food Innovation Strategy Vision
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• Uses risk/scale appropriate policy
(regulation, incentives)
• Builds value chain collaborations
(industry, government, academic)
• Shares information to maximize
benefits
• Invests in targeted education,
training and resources
(e.g. commercialization roadmap)
Agri-food Innovation Strategy Processes
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Innovation results:
• In investing in research & infrastructure
• In high quality affordable products & services
• From enabling policy
Agri-food Innovation Strategy Outcomes
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• The British Columbia Agriculture Plan – Growing a Healthy
Future for BC Families
• British Columbia Agri-Food Industry Year in Review 2010
• BC Agriculture Climate Change Action Plan
• Canadian Agriculture and Food – A Growing Hunger for Change
• Towards a National Food Strategy
• Canada’s Agri-Food Destination
Strategy Development Process
– Context –
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Strategy Development Process
– Scenarios for 2030 –
Possible future scenarios are intended to:
1. Engage BC agriculture and food system stakeholders in
discussions about the future of the sector;
2. Challenge and expand thinking about the roles of industry,
government and academia in creating a competitive and profitable
industry in the long term;
3. Gain a better appreciation for collaborative efforts; and
4. Help set the stage to develop pathways to meet the desired future.
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Strategy Development Process
– Scenarios for 2030 –
BC Ministry of Agriculture developed potential scenarios for BC
agriculture & food in the year 2030 based on consideration of
two key drivers with the greatest uncertainty:
‘Science and Technology’,
including research, development & deployment
‘The ‘Marketplace’,
referring to the ability to sell BC agriculture and agri-food
products in the local, regional and international markets
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Comments, advice and information
appreciated!
Thank you
Ann Eastman, Ph.D.
Senior Manager, Innovation
Innovation and Governance Branch
Agriculture Science and Policy Division
BC Ministry of Agriculture
250 387-7179 (office)
250 888-0885 (cell)