Growing Canada strong: lessons and momentum from 2025
Growing Canada strong: lessons and momentum from 2025
This year’s conversations at the GrowCanada conference centered around the theme of Meeting the Moment. What was clear is that while the agriculture and food industry may fly under the radar of many Canadians and policy makers, it is an industry that deserve more attention. It contributes 7% of Canada’s GDP and employs more than 2.3 million people - more than the automotive, forestry, steel and aluminum, and oil and gas sectors combined.
As Canada looks for growth opportunities in the midst of this moment of significant global and domestic change, agriculture and food can be a strategic driver of economic growth and prosperity for the country. The world needs what Canada produces and by creating the right conditions for Canadian ag and food to thrive and prosper, we can indeed meet this moment.
Building momentum across the sector, together
The GrowCanada conference is one of the few times where the entire crop production sector comes together in one place. The relationships built here help move Canadian agriculture forward, and that momentum matters, because Canada’s agriculture sector deserves a platform that reflects its strength, ambition and impact. Personally, I was reminded about the power and importance of connection at this year’s event – both through the messages of the speakers and through my engagement with industry colleagues. It’s through these engagements that we spark new ideas, strengthen partnerships and build new ones, and align for a common purpose.
CropLife Canada is proud to be one of the 19 national agriculture and food organizations that make up the GrowCanada partnership. This year the GrowCanada conference added voices from further along the value chain, adding Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association and Spirits Canada to the partnership. As an industry that often struggles to get the attention it deserves, we are stronger when we unite with a common voice.
Reflections on 2025 – and what’s next
In 2025 we saw a window of opportunity for the agriculture sector. With a federal government focused on driving economic growth and competitiveness, there was a newfound receptivity to the importance of unleashing agriculture’s full potential for the benefit of all Canadians. Throughout 2025 CropLife Canada, along with our ag industry allies, continued to call on the federal government to prioritize agriculture by making bold and decisive policy changes that can help unlock over $100B in GDP growth over the next decade.
We were particularly pleased to see the government’s focus on reducing red tape to help encourage investment and innovation in Canada. The agriculture and food industry suffers from a stifling amount of red tape that unnecessarily limits growth and, in fact, drives investment to our competitor nations around the world. Our message to government has been clear: we can protect health and the environment while also focusing on the economy. There are various no-cost changes the government could quickly implement to reduce red tape and unlock major economic opportunities for the country.
We must find the balance between regulating for risk and regulating for growth. Canada's approach to date has left it ranked 32 out of 38 member countries for administrative and regulatory burden as tracked by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. While the red tape review progress reports from Health Canada, the CFIA and the PMRA included some positive recommendations related to plant science innovations, they do not go far enough. If we are going to move the need, it will require a new level of ambition from government.
I was pleased to have the opportunity to share our asks to government in an interview with The Context in November:
Telling our story, differently
In 2025 we took a new approach to telling the story of how plant science innovations help drive economic growth, support food security and underpin sustainable food production. In the fall we launched Grow Canada Strong, a national campaign that showcases the importance of innovation through the first-person storytelling of individual crops themselves. In an era where people are inundated with information and messages, we recognize the need to try to do things differently and find new ways of connection. We are looking forward to continuing our storytelling in 2026.
Looking ahead to 2026
As we close the chapter on GrowCanada 2025, the message is clear: now is the time for the Canadian government to embrace a bold vision and commitment to action. With a renewed national focus on economic growth, this is the moment to raise the profile of plant science and ensure agriculture is recognized as a highly advanced industry with significant potential to strengthen the national economy.
Here’s to continuing the momentum and meeting the moment together in 2026.
Pierre Petelle
President and CEO, CropLife Canada