In late February, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) brought together farm and food leaders from across Canada for its annual general meeting (AGM) – an auspicious time given the backdrop of looming U.S. tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian goods set to kick in March 4. 

“There's no doubt that Canada and the world are entering a period of great change. It's never been more important to look at the foundational elements that will springboard our sector into a productive future for Canadian agriculture,” said CFA president Keith Currie.

At the meeting, the CFA membership passed 18 resolutions that will inform much of its advocacy efforts in the coming year. This year’s resolutions cover a range of issues, including: international trade, conservation, climate change, labour, rural infrastructure, crop protection, risk management and much more.

The CFA had a range of high-profile speakers at the AGM, including:



• -  Carlos Joaquin González, ambassador of Mexico to Canada
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• -  John Stackhouse, senior vice-president, RBC
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• -  Sam Millar, assistant deputy minister of the Department of Finance
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• -  Nik Nanos, chief data scientist and founder of the Nanos Research Group of Companies.
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• -  Tom Rosser, assistant deputy minister of agriculture and agri-food

At the onset of the AGM, there were two interactive workshops for delegates which explored key agricultural topics: Succession planning, sponsored by MNP, as well as public perception, sponsored by Fertilizer Canada. Each in-depth workshop was led and informed by key subject matter experts, where participants were focused on identifying and exploring how to ensure we advance tangible and innovative solutions to the challenges of today.

The CFA AGM also featured two panels. The first, entitled Canada's Place in the World: What it Means for Canadian Agriculture, examined the complicated global political dynamics that are impacting Canadian agriculture.

The second panel of the AGM saw a return of RealAg Radio with a panel entitled Prevention, Protection, Programs: A Cross-Sector Approach to Disaster Response, which was sponsored by The Co-operators. This panel examined the various disaster relief programs for agriculture in Canada and how a cross-sector approach could improve those programs.

During the AGM, CFA president Keith Currie was elected to another term, with delegates electing a new 1st vice-president, Jill Verwey, as well as a new 2nd vice-president, Stéphanie Levasseur.

Recordings of the panels, political speakers as well as accompanying documentation, including passed resolutions, will be posted on the CFA website, www.cfa-fca.ca, in the coming days.

Source:  Canadian Federation of Agriculture February 27, 2025 news release