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CIFST Food Cluster –

Program Parameters: Priority Areas

The AgriScience Program under NPF (Next Policy Framework) includes three New Priority Areas, which align with the core elements of the Guelph Statement (from the Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Ministerial Meeting held in November 2021).

1. CLIMATE CHANGE & ENVIRONMENT:

Description & Scope

Investments made under the Climate Change and Environmental priority area would focus on:

  1. Research aimed at developing solutions to reduce GHG emissions and sequester carbon for agriculture to contribute to 2030 and 2050 climate targets;
  2. Research to support sector resilience and adaptation to climate change; and
  3. Research on other environmental and sustainability issues facing the sector with a focus on federal priorities of biodiversity, soil health, water quality, air quality, and plastics.

 

2. ECONOMIC GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT:

Description & Scope

Investments in this priority are expected to include:

  • Research to increase value-added domestic and export sales of agriculture, food and agri-based industrial products;
  • Research to develop emerging technologies that address labour challenges, increase productivity, and improve input use efficiency (e.g. fertilizer, pesticides, energy); and
  • Research to support alternative productive systems (e.g. cellular agriculture, controlled environment agriculture).

 

3. SECTOR RESILIENCE & SOCIETAL CHALLENGES:

Description & Scope

Investments in this priority will include undertaking research aimed at improving sector resilience in response to market, societal and other pressures. This will include areas such as:

  • Antimicrobial resistance;
  • Animal health and welfare;
  • Plant health;
  • Food security;
  • Biological alternatives to chemical inputs (pesticides and fertilizers); and
  • AI and Big Data in Agriculture.