Agriculture Value-Chains Welcome the Opening of the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office

February 21, 2024 – Winnipeg, MB – Today, the Canola Council of Canada, Cereals Canada and Pulse Canada applauded the Government of Canada’s official opening of the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO). The office marks a significant step in the government’s commitment to bolstering Canada’s presence and influence in this dynamic and fast-growing region. Located in Manila, Philippines, this office can play an important role in advancing Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, aimed at enhancing Canada’s geopolitical position and competitiveness while strengthening trade ties and promoting agricultural exports and innovation.

“The Indo-Pacific holds tremendous potential for Canada’s agriculture industry,” said Greg Cherewyk, President of Pulse Canada. “This new office will help provide the resources and expertise needed to give Canadian farmers and agri-businesses a competitive advantage and diversify our agricultural exports across the region.”

The opening of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Office underscores the significant potential for Canadian agricultural exports to contribute to export diversification and food security in the Indo-Pacific.  Establishing a dedicated office equipped with experienced market access personnel, technical experts and regulatory policy champions will equip Canada to better proactively engage with key markets, mitigate and manage potential market access issues, and champion science-based regulatory approaches.

“The opening of the IPAAO is an important step forward in demonstrating Canada’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific region,” said Chris Davison, CCC president & CEO. “Having new resources and additional expertise in the region will help Canadian industry respond to the growing demand for high-quality food and feed products in this region.”

This new office should serve as a hub of excellence, positioning Canada as a trusted knowledge partner in the Indo-Pacific. It will facilitate regular communication with agriculture policymakers and regulators, enabling rapid response to market access issues and fostering collaboration on emerging trends and technical capacity building. Moreover, the office can contribute to a more unified and coordinated approach to addressing market access and trade issues and market development opportunities by facilitating collaboration between various levels of government and industry stakeholders already present in the region.

“Collectively, the Canola Council of Canada, Cereals Canada, and Pulse Canada represent three of the largest crops in Canadian agriculture, accounting for over $100 billion in annual economic activity and supporting over 370,000 jobs across the country,” said Dean Dias, CEO, Cereals Canada. “Our organizations have long advocated for the inclusion of a Canadian IPAAO in the federal government’s Indo-Pacific strategy and, with today’s opening, we remain committed to collaborating with both industry and government to maximize the potential of Canadian exports in the Indo-Pacific region.”

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