Farm groups from across Canada are urging the federal government to halt proposed cuts to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) research network, warning the move would weaken the country’s long-term agricultural competitiveness and leave major gaps that universities and private companies cannot fill.
In a March 9 letter to Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald, more than 20 organizations called for an immediate 24-month pause on the planned closures of research facilities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, along with the shutdown of the Organic and Regenerative Research Program and the elimination of scientific, technical and support positions.
The groups say the proposed cuts would reduce AAFC’s national research footprint at a time when farmers are facing mounting pressures from climate change, pests, disease and the need for more resilient production systems. They also argue the decision was made without consultation with producer groups and without a proper understanding of the economic and agronomic value of Canada’s public research system.
Farm organizations said AAFC’s centres and farms form an integrated national network that supports livestock, crop and agronomic research across multiple soil types and climatic regions. They said this work cannot simply be replaced by universities, which often rely on short-term funding, or by private companies, whose research is driven by commercial returns.
The letter also pointed to the broader economic value of public research, noting past work has generated major returns through improved yields, new seed varieties and export quality protection.
The groups are asking Ottawa not only to pause the cuts, but also to release any impact analysis and work with farm organizations on a long-term strategy for public agricultural research.
