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GOC opens applications for sustainable CAP

March 8, 2023  By Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada


On March 6, Marie-Claude Bibeau, federal minister of agriculture and agri-food, announced applications are now being accepted for federal programs under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), which will go into effect on April 1. Federal, provincial and territorial governments are investing a record $3.5 billion in the new five-year agreement to position the sector for continued success as a global leader in agriculture that is environmentally, economically and socially sustainable. 

“The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership includes a suite of programs that will allow our producers and processors to remain competitive and profitable while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the sector,” Bibeau said in a statement. “By opening applications for federal programs today, we are ensuring that there will be no interruption in funding between the old and the new partnership.” 

The federal programs – which include AgriAssurance, AgriCompetitiveness, AgriDiversity, AgriInnovate, AgriMarketing and AgriScience – are currently delivered through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) and are being renewed for five years to support key priority areas, including: 

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  • strengthening the sector’s ability to grow by focusing on technological advances, attracting a new generation of farmers and creating a more diverse and inclusive workforce; 
  • accelerating the development and adoption of research and innovation in both primary agriculture and value-added processing; 
  • advancing measurable action on climate change and the environment, including a reduction of three to five megatonnes (Mt) in greenhouse gas emissions; 
  • expanding markets for Canadian exports through global business development and trade promotion, supported by a stronger and more resilient supply chain, with a goal of increasing exports to $95 billion and overall industry sales to $250 billion by 2028; and
  • establishing even greater trust in the sector by developing and enhancing quality and safety assurance systems. 

The six federal programs are part of a $1 billion investment that also includes support for trade policy and market access, market development, market information and regulations, sector engagement tables and foundational science led by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 

In addition to these programs, the Sustainable CAP includes $2.5 billion in cost-shared programming that will be delivered by provincial and territorial governments. Bilateral agreements between the Government of Canada and the provincial and territorial governments are in the process of being finalized. 


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