CropLife Canada Urges Bold Action to Unlock Agricultural Productivity Growth and Strengthen the Economy

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OTTAWA, Ontario, Oct. 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CropLife Canada is calling on the federal government to prioritize agriculture by making bold and decisive policy changes that can help unlock over $100B in GDP growth over the next decade.

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Pierre Petelle, president and CEO of CropLife Canada, emphasizes the critical need for the Government of Canada to adopt a growth mindset that positions agriculture as an economic superpower. “There has been considerable talk about unleashing Canada’s economy and agriculture cannot be overlooked as a national priority,” Petelle stated.

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Despite its undeniable impact, the agricultural sector faces significant hurdles that hinder its growth, including timely and predictable approvals for new agricultural innovations like seed and crop protection products. “While there are many things outside of Canada’s control like extreme weather events and tariffs, the regulatory system is within its control,” says Petelle.

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While Canadian farmers used to be among the first to have access to new crop protection tools, they are now often left waiting while their competitors in other countries reap the benefits of the technologies.

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“There are currently half as many submissions of pesticides seeking regulatory approval in Canada as there were a decade ago, and yet the timelines for approval have nearly doubled. This puts Canada at risk of falling further behind other nations that have established more efficient and predictable regulatory frameworks,” says Petelle.

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It is critical that farmers have timely access to new seed and crop protection tools to remain resilient in the face of climate change challenges and to compete in the global market. Canada’s agricultural productivity growth has stagnated at less than 1 per cent from its peak of almost 2 per cent two decades ago.

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“In an industry where there’s so much potential to increase productivity and serve a global market in need of Canadian-grown food and feed, we need to capitalize on the opportunity,” says Petelle.

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In addition, it’s important that Canada position itself as an attractive place for investment in R&D so we can have made-in-Canada solutions for farmers.

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“We have Canadian companies doing exceptional work, yet they often seek paths to commercialization in other countries due to uniquely Canadian demands and lack of timeliness. Canada needs a bold re-set when it comes to modernizing its regulatory approach,” says Petelle.

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CropLife Canada is urging the federal government to act decisively on a number of no-cost measures that will help drive productivity and innovation within the sector. Key recommendations include:

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