/EINPresswire.com/ -- OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 03/31/16 -- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay and Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Oneil Carlier held a conference call today with their provincial and territorial colleagues to discuss issues of importance to the sector and preparations for the Annual Conference of Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ministers, which they will co-host in Calgary in July.

Minister MacAulay highlighted agriculture investments announced in the federal Budget, which include support for advanced research in agricultural genomics, improvements to science infrastructure across the country and support for clean technology.

Ministers talked about trade and market access for Canadian agriculture and agri-food products. Minister MacAulay reconfirmed Canada's commitment to swiftly ratify the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and to consult Canadians on the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Ministers discussed their upcoming Annual Conference. At the midway point of the current FPT agricultural policy framework, Growing Forward 2, governments are taking stock and engaging with the sector to build on successes and address challenges as they work toward the next policy framework.

Quick facts

--  Agriculture is a shared jurisdiction and FPT governments work closely in
    the development and delivery of programs across the country.
--  Growing Forward 2 is a five year $3 billion investment by FPT
    governments that runs from 2013 to 2018.
--  The Annual Conference of FPT Ministers will be held July 20-22 in
    Calgary.
--  In 2014, the agriculture and agri-food system generated $108.1 billion,
    accounting for 6.6% of Canada's GDP.
--  In 2014, the agriculture and agri-food system employed over 2.3 million
    Canadians - or one in eight jobs

Quotes

"Collaboration between governments is essential to the long-term success of the agricultural sector. I look forward to continuing to work with my counterparts to support the sector, which is vital to help grow the Canadian economy."

--  Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

"I am thrilled to help lead this process alongside Minister MacAulay. Alberta has long been a leader in agriculture and I'm excited to share across the country our success stories. I'm looking forward to glean from others more ways to expand our prosperity."

--  Oneil Carlier, Alberta Minister of Agriculture and Forestry

Additional links

- Growing Forward 2

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Contacts:
Guy Gallant
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
613-773-1059

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

Renato Gandia
Press Secretary, Alberta Ministry of Agriculture
and Forestry
780-638-9466
Renato.Gandia@gov.ab.ca

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