Press Release Department: Federal - Agriculture and Agri-Food

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan, PEI) announced that the Government of Canada is investing nearly a million dollars ($949,322) to develop precision, wireless technology capable of predicting diseases that affect farm output. This investment with SemiosBio Technologies Inc. will provide farmers with real-time localized information to better manage plant diseases and optimize the use of pesticides. … Read more

As part of the Government of Canada’s new Innovation Agenda, Budget 2016 announced $30 million over six years to support advanced research in agricultural genomics to mitigate biological threats to agriculture. Genomics is the science that studies DNA sequences and the complexity of their multiple interactions. In order to help detect, assess, understand and prevent … Read more

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan, PEI) participated in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Committee of Agriculture Ministerial meetings in Paris, France, from April 7-8. Ministers and senior officials from over 40 countries held discussions on strengthening international trade and shared expertise in science and innovative technologies. MacAulay met with his European Union counterpart, … Read more

EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan and Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan, PEI) released the following statement: “The Government of Canada and the European Commission are pleased to announce the scope extension of the EU-Canada Organic Equivalence Arrangement which enters into force today,” they said. “Until now, the import of organic products from Canada … Read more

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan, PEI) and Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Oneil Carlier held a conference call with their provincial and territorial colleagues to discuss issues of importance to the sector and preparations for the Annual Conference of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers, which they will co-host in Calgary in July. MacAulay highlighted agriculture investments announced … Read more

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan, PEI) and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Jean-Claude Poissant (La Prairie, Que.) announced financial assistance of $75,600 for Val Notre-Dame Abbey to implement a quality control and management system, in accordance with HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) principles that are outlined in Codex Alimentarius. To do this, … Read more

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan, PEI) issued the following statement in response to China’s standard for foreign material in canola shipments: “Following discussions between the Governments of Canada and China, China has indicated that they will allow Canadian canola exports to continue under the current commercial conditions until September 1, 2016. Export conditions to China remain … Read more

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan, PEI) and International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland (University-Rosedale, Ont.) announced that Mexico has reopened its border to Canadian fresh poultry meat, including chicken, turkey and, most significant in terms of historical trade, duck meat. Mexico closed its borders in 2004 following an outbreak of Avian Influenza. While Mexico still maintains limited Avian … Read more

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan, PEI) announced a $400,000 investment with Flowers Canada (Ontario) to help greenhouse farmers introduce cost-effective waste water treatment systems. Developing and adapting on-farm waste water treatment systems is a top priority for the ornamental horticulture sector and this investment will help growers minimize the amount of pollutants (nitrogen, phosphorus and solids) in runoff … Read more

Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan, PEI) announced over $4 million in funding to the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association for three projects: $2,601,500 million from the AgriMarketing Assurance Stream toward the development of tools to enable end-users (packers, retail food service), consumers and the industry to have easy access to beef product information. $380,834 under AgriRisk Initiatives … Read more