Good afternoon. Thank you, everyone, for the opportunity to appear today on behalf of BASF Agricultural Solutions Canada.
BASF is the world's leading agricultural science company, operating in more than 100 countries and employing over 20,000 people globally in our agriculture solutions division. Across this network, our Canadian business plays a significant role. The innovation, manufacturing and regulatory expertise developed here directly supports our global business and the farmers we serve in every major agricultural region. I'm also proud to share that Canada has been selected as a focus market for BASF globally, prioritizing Canada for R and D investments.
In Canada we operate manufacturing facilities in Lethbridge, Alberta, and in Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, producing seed and crop protection products for domestic and export markets. We employ more than 600 Canadians across production, commercial, research and regulatory roles. We proudly invest millions each year in local R and D and stewardship activities.
Everything we do as a company is grounded in one purpose, and that's to support the people who do the biggest job on earth—farming. Canadian farmers are among the most innovative and resilient in the world. They are central, not only to Canada's food security but also to global food systems. When Canada's farmers thrive, the world benefits.
Our company exists because of farmers. When they succeed, Canada succeeds, but Canadian farmers cannot compete domestically and globally if the systems that govern innovation move slower than the challenges they face in the fields. That is the unfortunate reality today under the PMRA and CFIA. We work closely with both agencies as part of a shared system designed to protect human health, the environment and food security. Industry and farmers experience these regulatory frameworks together, not in isolation. When one part of the system slows down, the entire pathway to innovation is affected.
While both agencies play important roles, my testimony today will focus on the bottlenecks within the PMRA's review and re-evaluation processes and how these delays shape what tools farmers can access in the field. We value the PMRA's science-based mandate and Canada's reputation for safety, yet the agency's ability to deliver timely, predictable and science-based decisions has eroded. Files that should take months are taking years. The uncertainty and delays in timelines are impacting our ability to bring farmers the tools they need, when they need them.
A clear example is a new innovation that builds upon glufosinate, a very important herbicide for Canadian farmers. The new chemistry would provide increased efficacy and improve value for farmers. Unfortunately, as glufosinate is under review by the agency for re-evaluation and special review, we don't anticipate that our farmers will have access to this technology until the end of this decade. The U.S. received the approval in 2024.
These types of delays have a direct impact on farmers' ability to manage weeds, protect yields and adopt more sustainable practices. They also send a message to innovators: Canada is potentially no longer a first-launch market of new technologies. That means investment, research and early access could shift elsewhere.
BASF supports the intent of the government's regulatory reform initiative, and we recognize and appreciate the efforts by CFIA and PMRA to modernize, but the pace and outcomes remain inadequate. To truly serve farmers and the public, Canada's regulatory frameworks must be both rigorous and responsive.
We see three priorities to achieve that balance. First, to build predictability in both the PMRA and CFIA, they must be resourced and empowered to focus on their core mandates and commit to meet their established timelines. Second, the PMRA must adopt a model that uses the scientific evaluations and more efficient processes of such trusted jurisdictions as the United States and Australia. Third, ensure that the agency's mandate reflects both science and competitiveness. Farmers operate in a global market. Decisions that ignore timelines and economic impact ultimately hurt Canadian agriculture's sustainability and viability.
These are practical and achievable reforms. They will not compromise safety. Rather, they will strengthen it by ensuring that science, transparency and accountability guide every step of the process.
Chair and members, BASF is proud to manufacture in Canada and to partner with farmers in every province. Farmers are the backbone of this country. They feed our families, our communities and the world. They quite literally do the biggest job on earth. It's our collective responsibility as government, regulators and industry to make sure that they have timely access to the tools and technologies that make that job possible.
Thank you, Chair. I look forward to your questions. For any questions beyond my own expertise, I'll ensure that information is provided in follow-up.
Thank you.
