Agriculture Committee on Nov. 9th, 2017

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Yes, you have 45 seconds left.

[Jean-Claude Poissant, Liberal, La Prairie, QC]

We talked about genomics, in which I am a firm believer. Dairy companies do genomic studies on farm animals. This makes it possible to significantly reduce the number of head of livestock to be raised, and to obtain better returns. Companies can better manage their business.

Does genomics research have a limit?

[Dr. Brian Gray]

Thank you for your question.

Frankly, I have no idea, but there is probably a limit.

Cattle breeds that are very efficient in terms of diet have been developed. Nutrition is very effective with these cows compared to other breeds, which is a good thing. The productivity of these cows is quite close to the limit. However, I think we can still improve the effectiveness of each cow.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you, Mr. Gray and Mr. Poissant.

Ms. Trudel, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Karine Trudel, NDP, Jonquière, QC]

Thank you.

We are talking a great deal about agriculture, but in my region, Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean, we are surrounded by forests. The forest is a large garden that grows; it's alive. We harvest it and we work it; it's like a living garden. Trees are major carbon sinks.

We are talking about forest residue and biomass. Does the department have investment programs to help businesses grow? We could do a lot of things with the forest residues.

To your knowledge, are programs going to be put in place eventually? Are there already measures in place to encourage the cultivation of our forests and open up new markets for forest residues?

[Tom Rosser]

I can try to answer your question.

Yes, there are a number of connections between the agricultural sector and the forestry sector with respect to bioeconomy. Technologies make it possible to use agricultural and forest residues. The $200 million from budget 2017 earmarked for clean energy initiatives will encourage the development of those technologies.

In addition, our colleagues at the ministry of natural resources and wildlife have programs to encourage the development of those technologies. We have also done that. We believe that the funds in budget 2017 will enable us to do more.

There is no joint program linking the two sectors, but there are still opportunities for collaboration between the forestry sector and the agricultural sector, particularly in terms of bioproducts and the bioeconomy.

[Karine Trudel, NDP, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Gray, would you like to add anything?

[Dr. Brian Gray]

Yes, but I will answer in English.

I just can't pull the technical terms off the top of my head, sorry.

We have just developed, in our branch, a clean technology strategy for the research that we have within our department. It's a small group, but we reached out to Natural Resources, to their forestry department. As you mentioned, biomass—whether it's left over from harvesting corn or from harvesting wheat—is something that could be used for energy. It could be used as a material for making autos, planes, or anything like that.

It's the same thing in the forest domain. Carbon is carbon, and plant waste is plant waste, so there is opportunity there for us to better collaborate and pool our resources and our smart scientists to work in these areas. That's something nascent. We are just beginning to do that.

[Karine Trudel, NDP, Jonquière, QC]

Without going back to the earlier debate over the TPP motion, which was rejected, there are a number of trade agreements with other countries. It is important for Canada to promote environmental issues and talk about climate change so that the rules are fair for everyone in order to improve our environment.

What role does your department play in trade negotiations?

[Tom Rosser]

We play a role in negotiating international trade agreements. One of our colleagues is the chief negotiator for the agricultural sector. She is a regular participant in the negotiations, working closely with her colleagues at Global Affairs Canada. Yes, we play a role in the negotiation process. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the vast majority of trade agreements, there is a chapter for the agricultural sector and a number of other sectors that are of interest to us.

[Karine Trudel, NDP, Jonquière, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Do you have a quick question?

Do you want to ask a short question, or to call it a day?

Okay. Mr. Longfield, you wanted one question.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That was generous of you.

I have a macroeconomic question. When we look at climate change.... One of your slides showed the changing area that would be more favourable for different pests as climate change takes hold, going into northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Do we have similar maps of how crop production could change in Canada? In the west, we have always been the wheat breadbasket of the world. With the changing growing seasons, there could be an economic change in the types of crops we grow. I know that in Asia a lot of wheat has come off the international market because of the rain that's now happening in parts of Asia, which didn't use to happen.

Do we have a larger risk analysis on the economics of climate change in terms of the crops that are produced in Canada, or is there an opportunity there?

[Tom Rosser]

Brian may be better placed to answer the question than I.

I would just offer two observations, Mr. Chair. One is that, over time, we do see significant changes in the crop mix in the country relative to 10 or 15 years ago. We see a lot more soybeans in western Canada. We have seen lower acreage in wheat over time and increased acreage in oil seeds. In part that just reflects market realities; in part it reflects technological advances and the ability to grow certain crops in different climates; and in part it probably reflects changes in growing seasons. I know there has been research done in this area. In fact, you see part of it in the deck that we shared with the committee, some thoughts and analysis of what a changing climate could mean over time.

I am not aware of specific analyses that answer your question at a global level, but perhaps Brian can offer some thoughts.

[Dr. Brian Gray]

We have very good information up to last year's crop on most of Canada. We have really good maps on acreage and the specifics of where it was, and they are in a geomatic format, at least for parts of the country. That's great information. What I tried to pick on page 14 is an area of zero-sum game growth within our group, namely, developing these forecasting maps. That's where we'd work with Environment and Climate Change Canada because they have one of the world's global climate forecasting models. We'd be looking at regional model development in partnership with them. That is part of our MOU so we can start doing the “what if” scenarios. For example, if the temperature is going to be this, we already have good information on soil so we know it's the right soil and that the temperature is going to change, those sorts of things, so we can start doing the “what ifs”. We really have to go back to the producers and ask what areas they're interested in expanding into. As Tom mentioned, a really good example is soybeans. We've seen soybeans just marching from Manitoba right into Saskatchewan.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you, Mr. Gray.

Thank you so much. It has been a long time to sit on the stand, as it were, so thank you so much for taking the time.

Thank you, everyone.

Have a good week in your ridings; we will see each other again on November 22.

Have a good week.