BY: PIERRE PETELLE

In today’s geopolitical climate, Canadians are placing greater value than ever on reliable access to Canadian-grown produce. To meet those expectations, growers need access to the latest crop protection tools and innovations through a regulatory system that is timely, predictable, and science-based. Canada represents less than four per cent of the global market for crop protection products, meaning investment and access to new products is not always guaranteed. At a time when global supply chains are uncertain and trade barriers are rising Canada should be increasing access to innovation and avoiding unnecessary obstacles that risk leaving growers behind.  

This is why it has been encouraging to hear the federal government discuss the need for bold change to address Canada’s lagging agricultural productivity and reduce regulatory red tape. The Prime Minister’s messaging clearly signals his intent to move the government’s agenda to drive economic growth for Canada with urgency. That agenda is being echoed by the Minister of Health, Marjorie Michel, whose recent engagement with the agriculture sector, including her appearance at CropLife Canada’s Spring Dialogue Days event, is unprecedented. She has clearly signaled the need to modernize Canada’s pesticide regulatory system to ensure it is timely and encourages access to innovation for Canadian growers. 

CropLife Canada has been advocating for a legislative mandate change that includes economic considerations in the Pest Control Products Act for some time now and we were pleased to see the government include this change as part of the implementation of its Spring Economic Statement. We believe that including economic and food security considerations will result in more pragmatic decisions that take into account agricultural realities. 

Today’s geopolitics are largely out of our control, but the Canadian agricultural innovation agenda is solidly within our purview to change. Crop protection innovations play a significant role in determining the success of the various crops we grow in Canada. Manufacturers want to bring new crop protection products to Canada with as many uses on the label as possible, including important minor uses for fruit and vegetable growers. 

These minor use cases are often the first casualties of label restrictions or product losses, another reason why the industry needs a nimble regulatory system that encourages innovation and investment by having economic considerations as part of its process.

The Pesticide Regulatory Directorate (PRD), formerly the PMRA, of Health Canada has a critical role to play in supporting on-farm productivity and the competitiveness of Canadian farmers through enabling access to safe and effective crop protection tools.  Amending the mandate will allow the PRD to:

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• -  Put risk in real-world context and have more options to consider before defaulting to product cancellation. 
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• -  Increase touchpoints with agronomists, farmers, and registrants to improve the credibility of decisions and reduce frictions with the value chain.  
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• -  Improve Canada’s standing as a reliable market for innovation and capital deployment. 
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• -  Allow Canada to better leverage foreign approvals where appropriate, reducing duplicative work and regulatory delays. 

Canada has an opportunity to lead in agricultural innovation. Bold action on red tape reduction, coupled with an expanded economic mandate is essential to ensuring Canadian growers can compete, thrive, and help feed Canada and the world.