Looking for answers: a question and answer feature with the Hon Lyle Vanclief Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

The federal Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is in the midst of consultations with producers and others with a vested interest in agriculture and agri-food in Canada to determine a new direction for agriculture in Canada; this new direction is to be known as the Agricultural Policy Framework. The objective is to take a proactive approach to questions that continually arise at the farmgate year after year. Taking a break from these cross-country hearings, the Hon. Lyle Vanclief, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada took the time to answer some frank questions about the future of agriculture in Canada.

Q: Why does the federal government perceive the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) as the definitive course of action for agriculture in Canada?

A: The Agriculture Policy Framework is the shared vision of all governments, who agreed in principle last year to develop this new direction.

The proposed Agriculture Policy Framework recognizes that while it's important to address the traditional risks from weather, disease and price fluctuations, the agriculture sector faces a range of other challenges as well. Growing concerns about food safety and food quality, environmentally responsible production methods and the importance of taking advantage of scientific advances to capture new opportunities within the bio-economy all must be addressed. This modern business environment also means the sector is becoming a lot more knowledge-intensive, and there needs to be continuous learning to capture the full potential of the farm sector.

The Agriculture Policy Framework takes an integrated approach to addressing all of the issues that factor into success in the 21st century. This approach will allow us to expand and develop new markets, capture premium prices for our products, and build a viable and profitable sector here at home.

Q: The APF requires support and co-operation to fulfill its vision. Based on the less-than-perfect relationship between Saskatchewan's Agriculture department and its federal counterpart, does this jeopardize the APF in any way?

A: We're all working toward the same ultimate goal, which is to build a vibrant and profitable agriculture and agri-food sector in Canada and make it No. 1 in the world. Minister Serby is engaging in the debate about how best to do that and I expect we will continue to have some lively discussion as we work toward an agreement.

We're still discussing the risk management element, as well as the other four areas, as we work to establish common goals in business risk management, renewal of the sector, food safety, environment and science. But we all agreed in principle at Whitehorse that this integrated approach, which combines action on a number of fronts all at the same time, is the way we need to go if we're going to have a strong and competitive agriculture sector.

Q: Producers in these parts want to be able to compete on a level international playing field. Will the APF fulfill this objective?

A: We all want a profitable and competitive sector and the Agriculture Policy Framework is being developed to help achieve that.

We want an environment in which Canadian producers and processors can compete with each other on the basis of their comparative advantage, and not on the size of government treasuries. That is why we are working toward the elimination of subsidies in WTO agriculture negotiations.

Implementing the Agriculture Policy Framework will mean increasing the agriculture and agri-food sector's international market share as our food producers and their products become synonymous with excellence in the minds of buyers and consumers around the world -- excellence in terms of safety, in terms of environmental responsibility, and in terms of their uniqueness and quality.

Branding Canadian agriculture as the world leader in food safety, innovation and environmental responsibility will put us ahead of the competition. Others who don't take the steps we're talking about will find themselves falling behind.

Q: The federal government has been criticized in these parts for its steadfast denial of subsidies. Does this criticism negatively affect the APF in terms of its acceptance at the producer level?

A: The U.S. has chosen to give lots of money to agri business, but it's not fairly distributed and often it goes to the people who need it least. And studies clearly show it's eroding the competitiveness of the American industry.

We want to be more strategic in the way we support our agriculture and agri-food industry in Canada -- we want to do it in a way that contributes to the competitiveness of our industry and our producers in the long term. Instead of following the American model, the federal government is working with provinces and territories across the country to ensure the long-term competitiveness of our industry. That's what the Agriculture Policy Framework is all about.

At the same time, we continue to work diligently and forcefully toward the elimination of export subsidies and trade-distorting domestic support. We made considerable progress at the WTO round in Doha, Qatar, and we've got a clear timeline to work with now. And I'm prepared to fight at the highest levels any new support the U.S. may be considering.

Q: How has response to the APF been?

A: All agriculture ministers unanimously endorsed the need to implement the Agriculture Policy Framework action plan in Whitehorse last June and we're currently working to develop common goals that will lay out in a more detailed way what it is we want to achieve, and then from there, we'll figure out the best tools and programs to achieve those goals.

A number of industry leaders have also indicated they agree this is the direction we have to go. I don't know if individual producers know a lot about the Agriculture Policy Framework, which is one reason we're doing these dialogues across the country. We want to make all the players in the agrifood chain much more aware of the policy framework and get their feedback and their input as Ministers of Agriculture work toward a formal agreement.

We expect the public will be very supportive of the framework because it addresses their concerns--about food safety, about the environmental impacts of agriculture, and about assisting a key industry in our economy to be competitive.

Q: How can Canada achieve world-leader status in food safety, innovation and environmentally responsible production, which is the ultimate goal of the APE?

A: The industry is already doing a lot in terms of food safety systems, and we've done some good work on environmental sustainability. Now we need to ensure we're doing it consistently, all across the country, and demonstrate to consumers that it's happening.

Once we are able to show that everybody, no matter where in the country they are or what part of the production chain they belong to--whether it's a farmer, transporter, processor, exporter, etc.--is using consistent and recognized approaches to assure consumers their food is the safest and best it can be, buyers around the world will want to source their product here.

The words "produced in Canada" will become synonymous with excellence in the minds of buyers and consumers, and we'll be able to expand our markets and capture premium prices for our products.

Q: Do you believe agricultural production is a viable industry in today's market conditions?

A: The whole premise of the Agriculture Policy Framework is that there is a bright future in farming, and we want to ensure we have a policy in place that has the right tools for a competitive and successful industry in the 21st century.

We want to see a viable and profitable sector all across the country--and to achieve that we need to ensure our industry has the capacity to address all of the various demands placed on it, whether those are in the areas of food safety, environmental responsibility, or the ability to withstand the weather and disease-related risks that are so much a part of farming.

The new policy framework is about taking action on a number of fronts, in a very integrated and strategic way, to address the challenges we face and build a strong sector that is known around the world for its excellence.

Q: Is there a contingency plan for drought conditions?

A: The prospect of more drought is obviously a great concern for everybody. It's a serious concern and one I'll be monitoring closely. For this crop year, we've budgeted $1.1 billion to help farmers manage risks to their incomes from perils such as drought. The provinces are also kicking in over $733 million, bringing the total assistance available this year to about $1.83 billion. That's a significant amount of money any way you cut it.

But at the same time, we're working to develop an agricultural policy that better assists farmers in managing all the risks they have to deal with. Mother Nature is only one type of risk--there's also the risk that, if you don't meet consumer demands, you could find yourself out of a market.

There's always going to be some sort of issue in agriculture--if not drought then pests or too much moisture or something else. That's the nature of farming. That's why ministers are developing a multi-pronged approach that looks at ways to reduce your risk and improve your situation over time so you're better prepared to deal with crisis when it comes. The Agriculture Policy Framework is about using science to adapt and develop new opportunities, about improving producers' knowledge and management skills, about reducing their liability through food safety and environmental measures.

Q: How long will it take for the full effect of the Agriculture Policy Framework to be achieved?

A: The Agriculture Policy Framework is all about helping Canada's agriculture and agri-food industry to be first in the world. We're working on an action plan over five years, but in reality, it's a job that never stops. We'll be working with industry on an ongoing basis to meet the demands of the consumer and the marketplace and we'll continuously be striving to develop new markets and new opportunities.