Roundtable highlights the need for a national agriculture strategy

Canada possesses significant agricultural potential, but regulatory fragmentation and delays, aging infrastructure and heightened geopolitical trade risks are constraining the sector.

At a November 2025 roundtable, the Canada West Foundation heard about the need for a comprehensive national agriculture strategy to take advantage of sector-wide opportunities and reduce the challenges facing Canada’s agri-food production, processing and net exports.

This new report is the culmination of those discussions and provides a comprehensive summary of how Canadian agriculture can grow to meet demand and adapt for the future.


Report available in English and French

Building Future Success
Growing Canada’s agricultural sector

A Roundtable Summary
February 2026

Read the report (PDF)

Bâtir le succès
Développer le secteur agricole canadien

Résumé d’une table ronde
Février 2026

Lisez la rapport (PDF en français)

 


The roundtable brought together experts from agriculture, business and government to address the following question: 

What are the biggest opportunities and challenges for increasing Canada’s agri-food production, processing and net exports? 

Four key areas stood out during the discussion: 

  • On-farm investment 
  • Market and product diversification 
  • Infrastructure 
  • Technology and innovation 

Read the full report to learn more.


Acknowledgements 

This roundtable and related proceedings were supported by Canada Infrastructure Bank, with sponsorship from Farm Credit Canada and Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP (Osler). 

The Canada West Foundation also thanks Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel for moderating the conversation. 

This report, written by Stephany Laverty, a Senior Policy Analyst with the Canada West Foundation, summarizes themes without attribution. It is intended to inform public policy discussions. 


Media contact 

Melanie Ducharme 

Director, Strategic Communications