Fixing gaps in Canada’s agricultural innovation ecosystem Matt McIntosh Endemic barriers stifling success of new and upcoming innovations Remedying the problem, according to some industry groups, requires a more collaborative approach in research and development, streamlined regulations, and clear requirements for securing public funding, among other changes. Efforts to spur the government to take such actions are ongoing. INVOLVE FARMERS FIRST “The process by which innovations get developed and ultimately commercialized is missing a key component – the farmers themselves,” says Dave Smardon, president and chief executive officer of agrifood innovation accelerator Bioenterprise. In Smardon’s experience, innovators failing to actually go to the farm with their ideas and for troubleshooting is a perennial problem, where good ideas lead to products that farmers either don’t find useful or can’t be sold at a price point that farmers are willing to pay. This state of affairs is also present across research participants, including private individuals and academic institutions. Canada’s geography and the significant differences between agriculture in its various regions also lead to a more siloed innovation landscape, implying a wider cultural problem in Canadian innovation. “It’s logical to expect farmers really don’t know where to find innovation or get involved [in innovation projects] because we have excluded them Canada is a powerhouse of agricultural innovation, but it lags behind in bringing new products and approaches to the hands of farmers and food processors. ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER MARKET DEVELOPMENT 26
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