Agriculture Committee on March 10th, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

Welcome to meeting number 26 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format pursuant to the Standing Orders. Members are attending in person and remotely using the Zoom application.

As usual, I'd like to ask all in-person participants to consult the guidelines written on the cards on the table. These measures are in place to help prevent audio and feedback incidents and to protect the health and safety of all participants, including our interpreters. You will also notice a QR code on the desk, which links to a short awareness video.

As everyone knows, we had votes, so our time has been cut. I'd like to propose that we break the meeting into two 40-minute segments, if folks are okay with that, and maintain our scheduled time.

Monsieur Lemire.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Is it possible, depending on the availability of House resources, to extend the meeting slightly beyond the scheduled end time?

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

It's the will of the committee. I would suggest that we finish at one o'clock as suggested, because I know people have appointments and meetings. It's really up to you. What do you all think?

[Steven Bonk, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

I'm free. I'm willing to go longer.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

How about if we extend it by 15 minutes? Is that fair? Is that okay with everyone?

Okay. We do have the resources, so that's perfect.

We'll start with our first panel.

From the Government of Alberta, we have the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Hon. Richard J. Sigurdson, joining us today.

Also, from the Town of Indian Head, we have the mayor, Steven Cole, and the retired officer in charge, David Gehl.

From Protein Industries Canada, we have one representative, the chief executive officer, Tyler Groeneveld.

I'd like to invite the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation to start.

Welcome, sir, to our committee. Thank you for being here. You have five minutes.

[Richard J. Sigurdson, Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Government of Alberta]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today on an issue of significant importance to Alberta producers and to the future of Canadian agriculture.

Farmers and ranchers across Alberta and, frankly, all of Canada are deeply concerned by the federal government's decision to close seven Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research and development centres across our country.

I will be speaking specifically today of the research centre in Lacombe, Alberta. For more than a century, this research centre has been a cornerstone of agricultural innovation in western Canada. It has supported generations of producers with applied, practical science that directly impacts productivity in our agriculture industry.

This closure creates immediate issues for programs funded by our provincial government through Results Driven Agriculture Research, RDAR, totalling over $2.5 million across livestock genetics, crop disease monitoring, barley agronomy, meat quality, food safety and weed management. The closure of this centre would result in multiple RDAR projects requiring adjustments, reallocations of field plots, operational challenges or termination of research.

At this time, considering current challenges, such as food affordability in our country, combined with the growing global demand for food, it's important that we continue to focus on more investment into agriculture research. Research and technology are fundamental keys that will ensure that Canada continues to be a global leader in agriculture production. For every dollar invested, the future downstream results are exponential to growth, productivity and the profitability of the industry.

Alberta producers are navigating serious challenges already. They are dealing with volatile global markets, increasing input costs, labour shortages, transportation bottlenecks and a growing regulatory burden. Ongoing research is essential to productivity growth, which is what allows Canadian farmers to remain profitable while meeting rising environmental and market expectations. The optics of this decision will be a risk to our domestic and international reputation as a world-class producer of high quality, sustainable food.

Specifically, loss of funding will result in Alberta no longer having a federal research abattoir, in turn affecting capacity for carcass evaluation, food safety improvements and value chain studies. The facility's advanced grading technologies, including near-infrared, NIR, scanners and DEXA imaging, will also be lost.

As well, the Lacombe centre addresses prairie-specific conditions and challenges. Western Canadian agriculture is distinct in its climate, soils and livestock production models. The closure of this facility will have a ripple effect on the agriculture industry at large in western Canada. A large, multi-site weed-resistance project valued at over $3.2 million, which will require the relocation of research plots, is an example.

The loss of staff—such as losing a senior cereal pathologist, a leader in barley disease registration—will result in certain projects losing the ability to proceed.

This facility is a core prairie-wide data source for variety registration. This facility is the only one that is working on the development and federal registration of new varieties, which requires rigorous disease research.

On a local level, it is key to know that the economic impact will be a loss of staff. Of the 112 staff at the Lacombe centre, only six have been offered relocation opportunities, with all remaining positions being affected.

Let me be clear: Alberta supports fiscal responsibility, but agriculture research is not discretionary spending. It is strategic investment that aligns with the need for Canada to strengthen its economy and grow the national GDP, which is more important now than ever.

Investment in agriculture research delivers strong economic returns. Closing this facility to achieve short-term goals risks losing long-term economic gains that far outweigh immediate fiscal savings.

On behalf of Alberta producers, I am urging this committee to reconsider the decision to close the Lacombe Research and Development Centre, conduct a transparent impact assessment, and formally engage directly with effective provincial governments to discuss all options to ensure the preservation and the continuation of this essential research.

Thank you, committee.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

Thank you very much, sir.

Again, we appreciate the fact that you've taken time from your busy schedule to join us here today.

Next we'll go to Mayor Cole.

Your Worship, you have five minutes.

[Steven Cole, Mayor, Town of Indian Head]

Good morning, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today on behalf of the town of Indian Head and the surrounding region regarding the proposed closure of the Indian Head research farm.

For more than a century, this research station has been a cornerstone for both our local community and Canadian agriculture. Starting in 1886, the facility at Indian Head, Saskatchewan, played a vital role in providing support to settlers moving west, many of whom had little farming experience. Today, the farm continues to play a pivotal role in the agriculture industry, developing varieties to thrive in our new climate and withstand the threat of ever-evolving pests and diseases.

The decision to close it would have far-reaching consequences, not only for Indian Head but for farmers and agricultural innovation across the country. For the community, the research farm employs approximately 30 full-time staff, with significantly higher employment during the summer research and field season. In a small, rural community like ours, those jobs are significant. The impact of those job losses will not be limited to the employees themselves; it will ripple outward to spouses, families and many local businesses that depend on its presence in our community.

From an agriculture industry perspective, the closure is estimated to save approximately $3.8 million in the federal budget. This is a very small fraction of the federal budget, and it comes at the cost of research that generates enormous returns for Canadian agriculture. Research consistently shows that public investment in plant breeding and agriculture science returns between 10 and 30 times the original funding. In fact, innovations developed at the Indian Head research station have already demonstrated extraordinary value. One example is the development and advancement of direct seeding and zero-tillage practices. These technologies, which have now become the industry standard around the world, are estimated to benefit the agriculture industry by approximately $204 million every year, while reducing labour and machinery costs by more than 50%. In addition, environmental gains through improved soil health, reduced erosion and lower emissions have long-term impacts on the sustained health and well-being of the environment for future production.

The current assumption appears to be that if the public research capacity is reduced, private companies or producer groups will step in to fill the gap, but private industry operates under different incentives. Its research priorities must generate profit, which can lead to higher seed costs for farmers and a narrower focus on the commercially viable traits. In such a system, farmers will ultimately bear the cost through per-acre technology fees or seed premiums, which will shift the financial burdens to producers. At the same time, research that provides a broad public benefit, such as environmental sustainability, soil health or long-term economic resilience, may receive less attention.

A major concern with the closure of the Indian Head facility is the loss of the seed increase unit associated with the research farm. Experts estimate that moving the unit would delay research progress by three to five years due to the time required to prepare new land. Those delays could cost the agriculture sector as much as $400 million in lost progress and innovation.

Finally, I want to address the scientific implications of these closures. There is an important geographical reality to agriculture science. Canada is a vast country with highly variable soils, climates and production systems. Research conducted in Indian Head, because of its unique location in the transition area between the parkland and the grassland, reflects conditions across the prairie region and strengthens the overall quality of Canada's agriculture science.

Research conducted in Indian Head also supports projects and studies across the country. The data generated here feeds into national research networks and informs work happening at other facilities. When the station closes, the impact will cascade through the multiple research programs, slowing progress far beyond Saskatchewan.

Agriculture research cannot simply pause. Pests evolve, diseases adapt and environmental pressures change. This closure undermines Canada's long-term research capacity and weakens our ability to respond to emerging challenges in agriculture. Continuous research is necessary to develop new varieties and management practices that allow Canadian farmers to remain productive, competitive and sustainable in the global market.

In closing, I urge this committee to reconsider the closure of the Indian Head research farm. This loss would not only be devastating economically and socially, it would risk sacrificing hundreds of millions of dollars in annual returns to the agriculture industry in Canada and weaken a network of research that has taken generations to build.

Thank you, and we look forward to your questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

Thank you very much.

Next, we'll go to Mr. Groeneveld.

Welcome to the committee. You have five minutes.

[Tyler Groeneveld, Chief Executive Officer, Protein Industries Canada]

Thank you, Mr. Chair and committee members, for the invitation to appear today.

At Protein Industries Canada, we work to advance food production and value-added agriculture as a national economic priority. We're doing this by building on Canada's strong foundation that makes its agriculture and food production sector one of the best in the world. We're reliable, and we have farmland, high-quality production, rain-fed crops and people committed to bringing healthy food to tables in Canada and around the world.

Innovation is the foundation of Canada's food production and agriculture sector. In Canada, we have a strong track record of investing in innovation and adapting it to support the continued growth, success and competitiveness of our farms, ranches and processors. Over the last seven years, Protein Industries Canada, along with our industry partners, has invested more than $800 million to advance crop-based ingredient processing and food manufacturing right here in Canada. This investment is strengthening Canada's agriculture and food value chain, and supporting Canada in becoming globally food secure while helping it establish its position as a global agricultural powerhouse and preferred trading partner with the world.

Continued investment in research and production is key to our continuing competitiveness, but please understand that we are in a race with other countries around the world. Investment in agriculture and food production research would improve Canada's productivity and drive economic growth. It continues to advance solutions to some of humanity's greatest challenges, including food security, better human health and nutrition, and producing the most carbon-positive crops in the world.

As you are all very aware, we are facing global food production and distribution challenges at a scale that many of us have never experienced before. The lingering effects of fragile supply chains impacted by COVID-19 and global conflicts have led to record-high food inflation. Countries around the world are scrambling to ensure that they have a secure and reliable source of food and ingredients.

This is Canada's opportunity. Very few other countries can match us in terms of arable land, water availability, sustainable farm practices and political stability. However, without a sustained focus on research and innovation among all players—including industry, government and academia, and across the entire value chain—Canada risks falling further behind. Already, in a recent ranking of countries in terms of global food innovation, Canada ranks number five behind countries like the U.K., the U.S., Germany and Australia.

Agriculture and food production are key to Canada's economy and two of the greatest opportunities for innovation-driven growth. This has been understood for more than 100 years, when Canada started investing in the sector. Now, because of these foundational investments, agriculture and food and beverage manufacturing contribute nearly 10% of Canada's GDP and support more than 2.3 million jobs. That's more than auto and aerospace combined. It's the largest manufacturing employer in Canada, and it anchors economic activity in every region of the country.

This is because of the innovation underpinning the entire sector, from genetics and digital agriculture to advanced processing, automation and novel food ingredients. Innovation is what drives productivity, competitiveness and long-term resilience. It is also what positions Canada to lead globally in sustainable, high-value food production. Historically, primary production—including genetics and on-farm practices and applications—has been well invested in. We have a robust ecosystem that includes academia, research institutions, private industry, commodity organizations and public research anchored by AAFC.

This ecosystem has led to the creation of some of the most important inventions in Canada's agricultural history, including the development of canola and zero tillage.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

I'm sorry. We've run out of time. You can take five seconds to wrap up.

[Tyler Groeneveld]

We need to make it here. Innovation is the backbone of a competitive food and agriculture economy.

Thank you for your time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

Thank you so much, sir.

We'll go to the Conservatives. We'll do five-minute rounds.

Go ahead, Mr. Bexte.

[David Bexte, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Thank you very much, Chair. I appreciate it.

Thank you, witnesses, for attending here today. We appreciate your insights and hope to gain from your wisdom.

I'd like to start with Minister Sigurdson.

Welcome, sir.

[Richard J. Sigurdson]

Thank you for having me.

[David Bexte, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

I'm going to pivot a little bit to one of the big questions in the industry that's related to strychnine. You toured the federal Minister of Agriculture around and showed him evidence of what gophers and Richardson's ground squirrels were doing. Could you please comment on what the potential losses might be in Alberta, this season and ongoing, if this damage continues unabated and we don't have access to strychnine, especially since the forecast this year is looking at drought-like conditions that double the impact of gophers?

[Richard J. Sigurdson]

I think it's important to state this first. A lot of comments have come from many individuals about why Alberta needs access to strychnine over a lot of other jurisdictions around the world. It's important to understand that the unique soil conditions and environment in southern Alberta create an ideal breeding ground for this pest, Richardson's ground squirrel. That is why we need access to the strychnine over many other jurisdictions.

From what we've seen since the ban, I would say that the damages have increased tenfold. Currently, we as a department are actively looking at bringing a full economic impact assessment to that this year, understanding the pressure we're seeing from our producers, ranchers and farmers in southern Alberta. I would estimate that damages in the past three years have increased, at minimum, tenfold, anywhere from $80 million up to probably over $800 million. We'll have a more accurate economic impact assessment this year.

What I can tell the committee is that it's visibly become a major problem. It is affecting livestock health. We're seeing an increase in injuries to animals, which is impacting the health and wellness of our animals. We've seen it move through our native grasslands, destroying one of our biggest carbon sinks in the province. As well, it's now moved into crops and fields with impacts of far more damage. I think one of the most concerning issues that we've never seen before in the province is that the population has grown to a level where we're not just seeing crop and pasture damage; we're actually seeing visible impacts to buried irrigation lines, buried natural gas lines and fibre optic cables.

This is becoming a disaster in Alberta. That's why we moved, in conjunction with Saskatchewan, for an emergency use application, which was denied. I urge the federal government to reconsider that decision, understanding the current situation that this has caused in the province. If it continues and we do see drier conditions through July and August this year, we will almost move to a state of disaster.

[David Bexte, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Thank you, Minister.

The Liberal Minister of Agriculture said he would support an application. What were your feelings when it was denied?

[Richard J. Sigurdson]

Well, definitely the emergency use application is built for conditions like we're seeing in Alberta. That's why I've urged the federal government to reconsider the decision made by the PMRA. I'll flat out state this emphatically: All the risks that were proposed to us by the PMRA on why we couldn't have access to strychnine were mitigated. We are looking at education and training. We're talking about on-field assessment and restricted use based on the conditions that are seen in-field. We mitigated all risks. We would have inspections. We put requirements in place to make sure that we mitigated all risks related to predators gaining access to strychnine and unintended deaths because of that. We had a very strict protocol put in place.

We mitigated all the risk and we still saw a “no”. To us in Alberta, that's unacceptable. We're in an emergency situation. Our producers need access, and they need access this year—immediately; right now.

[David Bexte, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Thank you, Minister.

In the short time we have left, do you have any other thoughts on this?

[Richard J. Sigurdson]

We have to take a look at all the impacts. We're twofold, of course, and today I presented on the closure of the Lacombe research facility.

I'm going to say this flat out: I've travelled around the world and I see an increase in global demand. Food security, as well as food affordability, is front and centre for every country I've visited. Research is key to that. I think it was pointed out by individuals as well that there are other countries—

[The Chair, Liberal, Michael Coteau]

Minister, I'm going to have to stop you there. I apologize. We've run out of time. I gave you an extra 20 seconds there. Thank you again for everything.

We'll go to MP Connors for five minutes.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

Thank you.

Welcome to our invited guests.

Minister, can you elaborate a bit for us on RDAR?

[Richard J. Sigurdson]

I love talking about RDAR. It's a model that we started back in 2019. It's been active for multiple years now. We moved into funding RDAR as the extension arm for the Government of Alberta to conduct research within the province. I'm very proud to say that RDAR leverages additional dollars. Of course, our government invests $41.5 million in RDAR every single year. With that, it leverages private dollars, as well as post-secondary dollars. RDAR has done a great job of taking the initial investment and returning up to $3 to $5 additional for every dollar the province invests in research.

It's a co-operative model. With that, we've seen RDAR really connecting with farmers right on the field. The impact it is having is substantial right now, at the highest level we've seen in history. Our research is resulting in on-farm application, which is moving our industry forward faster. It really is being driven by our producers, our farmers and ranchers.

RDAR is an elected board. They're responsible to the industry. We're very proud of the work they're doing. It's having on-farm and farm gate impacts. We're seeing the research that's being invested in get applied in real time on the field, which is really what we want to see: research that's being applied as quickly as possible and is being adopted early. We're seeing the impacts of that in the province in a very positive manner.

[Paul Connors, Liberal, Avalon, NL]

All this research is happening on-farm. Is it happening anywhere else? What facilities are being used for this research?