Three core concerns – the policy and regulatory environment, extreme weather, and trade barriers and protectionism - rise above other issues to a place of prominence across the agricultural industry, according to a new survey from the Angus Reid Institute.
The three issues are viewed as largely already causing challenges, and not easily overcome. Indeed, fewer than 15% of survey respondents reported having confidence in government to solve any of the three, while fewer than 22% said they have confidence in private sector solutions
Regardless, optimism in the industry is relatively high. Those in the sector are three times as likely to say they’re optimistic (62%) about the direction of Canadian agriculture than pessimistic (21%), the survey showed.
While confidence in problem solving is low, the prevailing view appears to be that many opportunities are to be had, including accessing international markets and expanding on domestic potential.
Nearly half (47%) of survey respondents said Canada is well-positioned to take advantage of rising incomes globally and the subsequent expansion in demand. About one-third said Canadian agriculture is in a “fair” position, while one in five respondents took a negative view.
The markets most chosen as “massive” opportunities for the agriculture sector are India (41%) and the rest of Asia outside of China and India (41%). One in five respondents said both the domestic Canadian market (21%) and the US/Mexico (20%) are massive opportunities.
Beyond the top three threats to the sector, the survey also identified input affordability, farm income and debt, human resources, and climate change among a secondary tier of risks.
In partnership with the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI), and supported by the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan, Angus Reid Institute engaged more than 500 stakeholders in the Canadian agriculture sector, including farmers, those in civil society organizations, government workers and others, to ascertain the biggest risks and opportunities facing the sector.
