Minster Nate Horner to Stakeholders
Good afternoon,
I am proud to announce the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) in Alberta and share information on what this new framework means for our industry.
The Sustainable CAP builds on the success of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP). This new agricultural policy framework provides flexibility to deliver programs that will help Alberta’s producers and value-added processors grow their businesses and improve productivity, while addressing the unique challenges of farming in Alberta.
Sustainable CAP is a five‐year (2023-2028), $3.5 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation and resiliency in the agricultural, agri‐food and agri‐based products sectors. This includes a $2.5 billion in cost-shared programs and activities by federal, provincial and territorial governments, as well as $1 billion in federal programs and activities.
In Alberta, Sustainable CAP represents a cost-shared federal-provincial investment of $508 million over five years towards strategic programs and services for the agricultural and agri-food industries. Under the framework, the Government of Alberta has the flexibility that is required to develop and deliver programs that align with the needs of Alberta’s agricultural and agri-food sector and our government’s priorities. Programs align with the five Sustainable CAP priority areas:
- Building sector capacity, growth, and competitiveness;
- Climate change and environmental protection;
- Science, research, and innovation;
- Market development and trade; and
- Resiliency and public trust.
I am pleased to share that the Sustainable CAP programs are similar to programs that were offered under CAP – most have been rebranded and transitioned with minimal change. The suite of programs will continue to build a stronger and more resilient agricultural sector for generations to come.
A new program – the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program – has been added. This program’s objective is to accelerate the adoption of beneficial management practices that maximize the provision of ecological goods and services through carbon sequestration and enhancing climate resilience.
Grant program details and information about the application intake periods are available on the Agriculture and Irrigation website. Application forms will be available on the website on April 3, 2023.
Alberta’s suite of programs will continue to stimulate the creation of new jobs and spur growth in the agricultural sector by supporting:
- Value-added processing competitiveness, attraction of new investment and expansion of irrigation capacity that will enhance crop production; and
- The protection of plant and animal health and animal welfare, managing risks to our natural resources and investing in producer-led agriculture research.
Sincerely,
Honourable Nate Horner,
Minister, Agriculture and Irrigation
Agricultural Service Boards 