Growing Forward 2

Engagement Summary

Growing Forward 2 (GF2) is a five-year federal-provincial-territorial policy framework for Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector. It is the basis for coordinated, cost-shared programs to help the sector become more competitive and innovative. In British Columbia, the federal and provincial governments will invest an estimated $427 million in GF2 from 2013-2018.
 
In September 2012, the Province announced the GF2 Multilateral Framework Agreement, and began negotiations with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to enter a corresponding bilateral implementation agreement, scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2013.
 
The Bilateral Agreement (2013-2018) determined the Strategic Initiative programming for the B.C. agriculture and agri-food sector .  Funding was to be allocated for Strategic Initiatives in the following priority areas:

• Innovation;
• Competitiveness and market development; and
• Adaptability and industry capacity.

 
Citizens and stakeholders were given the opportunity to communicate their priorities and interests for programming within these priority areas.
 

Timeframe:

October 25 to November 16, 2012
 

Input Received:

Ministry stakeholders were invited by phone and email to participate in the online survey. Ninety-nine stakeholders completed the survey; of these, 25 respondents were members of industry organizations.
 

Input leads to action:

The survey results captured opinions on which priority areas were of highest importance to the sector, and within those areas, which activities would be most valuable. Adaptability & Industry Capacity was identified as the highest priority, although many respondents noted the interconnectedness with the other priority areas (Innovation and Competitiveness & Market Development), and commented that all areas were important to the sector. These responses helped inform Strategic Initiative programs delivered under GF2.
 
The federal and provincial governments continued to support ongoing innovation, climate change adaptation and market development through GF2 agricultural programs and services.
 
Of the funding provided, a substantial amount supported innovation through the Canada-B.C. Agri-Innovation Program (CBCAIP). As of March 31, 2016, the CBCAIP received over $7.3 million, funding over 60 research and development, pilot and demonstration, or commercialization projects.
 
Strategic Initiative funding also focused on the future of farming and creating solutions to adapt to the changing climate. Between September 2014 and March 2016, the Climate Change Adaptation Program received over $2.1 million to develop and administer the development of collaborative adaptation strategies and new adaptation technologies, or providing tools to anticipate and manage change.
 
Market Development activities were supported through the B.C. Agrifood & Seafood Export Program, which received over $2.3 million between December 2013 and March 2016. Projects funded under the program have enabled B.C.’s agriculture, food and seafood sectors to increase export sales and expand international market access through participation in international market development activities.