In an op-ed for The Hill Times, Syngenta Canada President Trevor Heck sends a clear message to policymakers: we need to bump up the economic and investment attention to agriculture, not let it wane.
"We're hearing a lot from government about challenges in certain sectors of the economy – but beyond the ongoing canola tariff headlines, it's been quieter on agriculture, one of Canada's true areas of strength," he says. "As trade tensions dominate headlines and tariff negotiations capture attention, agriculture risks being overlooked when it should be front and centre. This sector is an economic powerhouse that already adds $150B to our GDP and employs 2.3M Canadians – yet our R&D investment is falling behind."
Specifically, Trevor calls for:
- An environment that attracts private investment into the sector
- Streamlined regulatory processes so innovations reach farms faster
- Agriculture specific R&D incentives to drive technology adoption
Bold, strategic investment in agriculture will support farmers and unlock enormous potential for Canada.
Read Trevor's full op-ed.
