Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)
Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada
Department overview
Formed 1868 (1868)
Jurisdiction Canada
Minister responsible
Deputy Minister responsible
  • Andrea Lyon
Child agencies
Website agr.gc.ca

The Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, also referred to as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) (French: Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada), is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for policies governing agriculture production, farming income, research and development, inspection, and the regulation of animals and plants. It also has responsibilities regarding rural development. It is popularly called Ag-Canada.

The current Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is Lawrence MacAulay. The current Deputy Minister is Andrea Lyon.

History and structure

The Department of Agriculture was responsible for healthcare in Canada, between 1867 and 1919, before the Department of Health was created on September 1, 1919.[1] In 2013, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was moved from the Agriculture Portfolio to the Health Portfolio. [2]

Organizations for which the minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food is responsible include:

Acts and regulations

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is responsible for a number of Acts related to agriculture and food in Canada.[3]

Research

Agriculture Agri-Food Canada Saskatoon Research Centre on the Campus of the University of Saskatchewan

As part of the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Research Branch (French: Direction générale de la recherche d'Agriculture et agroalimentaire Canada) has the mandate to propose solutions and opportunities based on science to support competitiveness and the sustainability of the agriculture and agri-food sector. It is also in the Branch's mandate to provide scientific information to inform departmental and governmental decision processes.

Under the Experimental Farm Stations Act dating back to 1886, farm stations across Canada were established. The officers of these stations had the duty of conducting research in a number of specific areas pertinent to agricultural productivity and conservation, and of making the results of such research known by publication.

Today, the Research Branch includes a national network of 20 Research Centres[4] and 2,300 employees, including some 500 research scientists. Research activities focus on seven national priorities,[5] including the enhancement of:

Industry support

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is also responsible for supporting corporate and local agricultural producers and suppliers. They do this through a variety of programs and services including Agri-Geomatics which develops products and services for internal and external users, and program facilitation.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Canada's Health Care System [Health Canada, 2011]". Health Canada. Retrieved 2012-05-02.
  2. ↑ "Canadian Food Inspection Agency Joins Health Portfolio [Health Canada, 2013]". Health Canada. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  3. ↑ "Acts and Regulations > Neutral > About Us". Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  4. ↑ http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display-afficher.do?id=1181591790641&lang=e
  5. ↑ http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display-afficher.do?id=1183728579601&lang=e&lang=e

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/5/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.