The innovative Living Labs initiative that cultivated localized on-farm research will wind down if the federal budget tabled November 4 wins approval.
“[Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada] will wind down some programs outside its core mandate, such as the Agricultural Climate Solution Living Labs,” the budget document states, noting that the program isn’t aligned with the Carney government’s priorities. “The government is focusing on supports for producers and agri-businesses to innovate, adopt clean technologies and stay competitive in a shifting global market, ensuring Canada remains a leader in sustainable food production.”
Ten areas of focus across the orchard, vine, field vegetable, dairy, beef and forage sectors are being studied in BC, under the oversight of 10 commodity groups and stakeholder organizations.
The Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC received $6 million towards the initiative in 2022, once of eight Livings Labs across the country. BC is home to the only interprovincial living lab in Canada, with work in the Peace Region undertaken in partnership with Alberta.
The initiative was set to complete in 2027, and this week’s budget indicates funding will not be renewed.
Cuts to programming will be matched by staff reductions, part of a government-wide downsizing plan that will cut up to 40,000 positions within three years.
“Through process improvement and leveraging technology, AAFC will be able to operate at reduced resource levels while minimizing impacts on its external service delivery,” says the budget document, summarizing cuts to external contractors, administrative support staff and management, and the use of automation to eliminate “time-consuming manual work.”
Cuts to programming will also nix initiatives such as the 2 Billion Trees program, which the BC Fruit Growers Association recently urged government to extend to the orchard sector as a means of supporting orchard renewal initiatives.
Ottawa politely promised to review the proposal in mid-October, but the decision to axe the program was likely a fait accompli.
BCFGA executive director Adrian Arts was not immediately available for comment on the budget announcement, but the association is committed to ongoing advocacy for sector supports.
“BCFGA will continue advocating for policies and actions that empower and positively impact our growers and our sector,” a memo to growers says.
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