PRES2008-04-16

COUNTRY UPDATEon AAFC Science & Innovation

TETRAPARTITE 2008Bordeaux, France

Lacombe

Lethbridge

Winnipeg

Harrow

St-Jean

St-Hyacinthe Lennoxvil

le

Ste-Foy

Charlottetown

Kentville

St. John’s

Ottawa

Fredericton

Brandon

Saskatoon

Swift Current

Summerland

AAFC Science and Innovation Targets the Needs of the Nation

GuelphLondo

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• Different ecosystems• Different market structures• Different attitudes

• 19 Research Centres• 600 Researchers• 40% of total Research• $300M/year

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The Government of Canada announced its Federal S&T Strategy in May 2007

Advocates four core principles:– Principles of Excellence– Focus on Priorities– Foster Partnerships– Enhance Accountability

Creates three S&T advantages: – Entrepreneurial Advantage: Translate

knowledge into practical applications.– Knowledge Advantage: Generate new

ideas and innovations, achieve excellence.– People Advantage: Grow its base of

knowledge workers.

A key element is the desire to explore new models for science conduct and delivery with an emphasis on government, academic and industry partnership

The AAFC Science & Innovation Strategy developed in 2006 is aligned with the Federal S&T Strategy

1. Science Relevance through alignment with government strategy and priorities

2. Science Excellence through peer review

3. Partnerships engaging greater government-academic-industry collaborations

4. Leadership in building integrated national science capacity in support of the sector

5. Accelerating the rate at which science and technical knowledge is transformed into practical applications and commercial products and services

6. Improved system-wide coordination through enhanced foresight and planning

7. Enhanced capacity to bring science and technical knowledge into policy and business decision-making in government and industry

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Science Management Goals

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Strategic research priorities identified in the AAFC Science and Innovation Strategy are equally important to many countries

1. Enhancing human health and wellness through food and nutrition, and innovative products

2. Enhancing the quality of food and the safety of the food system

3. Enhancing security and protection of the food supply

4. Enhancing economic benefits for all stakeholders

5. Enhancing environmental performance of the agricultural system

6. Understanding and conserving Canadian bioresources

7. Developing new opportunities for agriculture from bioresources5

AAFC Research Priorities

Federal, provincial and territorial governments are developing the next generation of agricultural policy for Canada – Growing Forward

The Agricultural Policy Framework 2003-2008

The guiding framework for agricultural policy development and programming for the past five years

Emphasis has been on establishing a risk management platform for the agriculture and agri-food sector

Key areas of focus were:– Business Risk Management– Food Safety and Quality– Environmentally Responsible

production

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Growing Forward (2008-2013)

This will be the new policy framework for agriculture for the next five years

While risk management programming will continue, emphasis has shifted towards science and innovation and sector renewal programming to enhance sector productivity, profitability and competitiveness

In addition, there is greater recognition of bioeconomy opportunities for agriculture beyond traditional food and feed

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New agri-based business opportunities are emerging in energy, bioproducts, health, and environment

Emerging market opportunities for agri-based products:

– Bioenergy: Bioethanol, Biodiesel, Biogas (methane)

– Biomaterials: Composite materials, Biofibres

– Bio Oils: lubricants, bioplastics

– Biochemicals, biopesticides

Emerging market opportunities in food, food ingredients and health and wellness products:

– Functional Foods

– Nutraceuticals

– Bio-Pharmaceuticals

Emerging market opportunities in production system-based products and services:

– Organic agriculture products

– Environmental goods and services 7

To capture these opportunities,

Canada’s agriculture, agri-food and

agri-based products sector needs to

broaden its competitive strategy to

include product differentiation

and value-added in food and

bioeconomy markets

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The Growing Forward agenda emphasizes three Science & Innovation Objectives

Developing Strategic Focus & Taking Collaborative Action

Establishing a mechanism to build common understanding among governments, academia and industry of the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and to engage governments, academia and industry in taking coordinated and collaborative actions to address the challenges and capture the opportunities

Accelerating the Flow of Science & Technology along the Innovation Continuum

Establishing new models to deliver science, to manage the transfer of technology to the sector, and to make science resources available to address industry identified near-market issues

Enhancing Sector Capacity to Innovate

Developing supporting programs and services needed to better connect science with entrepreneurial actions, to better connect agri-entrepreneurs with investors, to assist the sector in accessing highly skilled personnel, to enhance understanding of emerging technologies, to better understand how to measure innovation performance, and to communicate innovation successes

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Research Branch science and innovation will focus on five major initiatives along the Innovation Continuum

Science Clusters

Seeding the establishment of science groups, not adding to AAFC’ s capacity, but adding to the critical masses of focused capacity in partnerships

Science Supporting Agri-based Products

Making AAFC and other organizations’ science capacity available to solve pre-commercialization challenges

Innovation Commercialization Centres

Technology transfer, pre-commercialization activities, prototype development. Staff and resources in partnerships, not at AAFC.

DISCOVERY PHASE

PRE-ADOPTION / PRE-COMMERCIALIZATION PHASE

MARKETINGPHASE

INNOVATION CONTINUUM

A-base

Peer-Reviewed Research

Strategic alignment with government and sector priorities

Public good and high-risk discovery science

Canadian Agri-Innovation Council (CAIC)Enhance capacity to anticipate challenges and opportunities and to proactively take collaborative action

Growing Forward Initiatives 9

Government Funded Jointly Funded Industry FundedGovernment conducted Public-Private Partnerships Industry Delivered

Programs and Services for the Sector

Environmental Science

Food Science

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AAFC science activities will emphasize the role of governmentin supporting farmers and contributing to society's priorities

Management Criteria assess whether proposed research:– is an appropriate role for the Government of Canada,– responds to departmental mandate priorities,– is aligned with departmental scientific priorities,– builds on synergies,– has a high probability of impact for Canada.

Focus Biodiversity Reference Collections, BiosystematicsAgri-Environmental IndicatorsGene Banks - Animals and PlantsGermplasm enhancementAnimal Welfare Standards and PracticesBiosecurity - Animal and Plant Pests and Disease Monitoring Biosecurity - Food Borne Hazards Mitigation and Control SystemsScience in support of regulatory assessment and standards Adaptation to Climate Change - Agriculture Production SystemsNorthern Agriculture Production SystemsHigh Risk Groundbreaking Research

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A-base

Peer-Reviewed Research

Strategic Alignment with government and sector priorities

Public good and high-risk discovery science

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Developing Strategic Focus and Taking Collaborative Action focuses on coordinating actions among governments, academia and industry

Canadian Agri-Innovation Council

There are three key elements:

Establishing a high-level Canadian Agri-Innovation Council (CAIC) and secretariat to deliver Foresight and Innovation Fora

Design and implement a systematic Foresight process and engage knowledgeable individuals to identify plausible scenarios out 10-20 years and to identify implications for the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector for the short-, medium-, and long-term

Develop Innovation Fora that engage decision-makers from government, academic and industry organizations to focus on strategic issues and opportunities arising from Foresight, conduct SWOT analysis and develop and implement collaborative workplans that address issues and opportunities

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Science Clusters will engage academia and industry in exploring new models for delivering science support to farmers and the sector

Potential Science Clusters

Cereal Grains

Dairy Science and Product Innovation

Beef Genomics and Value-Added Meat

Horticulture and Wine Research

Organic Agriculture

These public-private partnerships will enable AAFC to refocus its research efforts on areas that are clearly the role of government

while ensuring that existing industry services are maintained and further developed

Science Clusters

Seeding the establishment of science groups, not adding to AAFC’ s capacity, but adding to the critical masses of focused capacity in partnerships

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Innovation Commercialization Centres focus on professionally managing knowledge and technology transfer to the sector

Potential Innovation Commercialization Centres

Livestock Innovation & CommercializationBeef, Dairy, Swine, Poultry, Feed, Forage

Grains Innovation & CommercializationCereals, Oilseeds, Special Crops, Pulses

Horticulture Innovation & CommercializationVegetables, Fruits & Berries, Greenhouse

Food Innovation & Commercialization

Agri-environmental Innovation & Commercialization

These public-private partnerships enable science providers to focus on research while ensuring that the transfer of knowledge and technology to

the sector and entrepreneurs are managed professionally

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Innovation Commercialization Centres

Technology transfer, pre-commercialization activities, prototype development,business development

Staff and resources in partnerships, not at AAFC

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Science Supporting Agri-based Products helps to fund research needed to implement near-market innovations to capture new opportunities

Industry-identified problems or challenges

Industry-driven innovation strategies and plans

Support to address pre-commercialization challenges

Near market solutions to product innovation

These public-private partnerships enable AAFC and other science providers to deliver near-market research solutions in support of

specific demands from the sector and small business

Science Supporting Agri-based Products

Making AAFC and other organizations’ science capacity available to solve pre-commercialization challenges

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Research programs and services also address environmental, regulatory, and food safety issues

Sustainable Agriculture Environmental Systems (SAGES)Focuses on agriculture’s contribution to clean water and clean air. Also supports development of science required to maintain effective environmental programs and policies and to address crosscutting issues such as climate change, water management, and geospatial technology development.

Continuing Environmental Research started under APFWEBS II - Measures the relative environmental and economic effects of selected BMPs on water qualityNational Agri-Environmental Health Analysis and Reporting Program - Provides science-based agri-environmental information to help guide policy and program design.National Carbon and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Accounting System - A verifiable and transparent accounting system for reporting the changes in soil carbon stocks and GHG emissions from agriculture in Canada. Integrated Food For Health Research

New scientific information underpins health claims and provides the regulatory science support for setting requirements for new product classes. Create science networks with government, university and industry participation to accelerate the market entry of new and innovative products with enhanced health-promoting attributes by providing solid scientific evidence to meet critical knowledge gaps preventing product approval. The program would also target linkages with key international efforts in this area to leverage Canadian investments and facilitate access to expertise and knowledge.

Science Advancing Food SafetyScience in support of risk identification, prevention and rapid response; collection of accurate and appropriate baseline data to monitor program performance; and, research collaborations with national and international scientific institutions.

Programs and Services for the Sector

Environmental Science

Food Science

Improve AAFC’s ability to contribute to and benefit frominternational Science and Innovation development

Created in 2004, an International Scientific Cooperation Bureau

Leveraging Leveraging Science CapacityScience Capacity

Ensuring Multilateral Ensuring Multilateral ParticipationParticipation

Enhancing Trade Enhancing Trade OpportunitiesOpportunities

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A. Leveraging AAFC Science Opportunities throughInternational Cooperation and Partnership Initiatives

MOUs with key strategy countries (Tetrapartite, China, India, Israel and Spain)

Twelve twinning projects with the European Commission on Bioproducts

Six joint projects with CABI Bioscience, Switzerland

Four joint research projects with Israel

Participation to the 2nd Call ERA-Net Plant Genomics

Created four chinese platforms involving eight chinese partners

Established priority on food for health with India (DBT)

Hosting of international research personnel

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B. Enhancing trade opportunities with focus on Innovation

Five MOUs: Chili (horticulture), Mexico (beans), Japan (wheat), Spain (pork, cheese) and Russia (animal husbandry)

Participated to the High Tech Science Fair in China, Japan and France with the private sector

Development of niche markets based on innovation

Continuous knowledge support to trade initiatives

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C. Ensuring the Canadian role in the world through multilateral science-based organizations

FAO: Plant genetic treaty, animal

OECD: Biological resource program

IICA: Procinorte

CABI: International

GBIF: Global biodiversity information facility

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Aligning Research Branch Governance to addressa broader Science and Innovation Agenda

A governance reflecting the Growing Forward Initiative

ADM

DG Science Programs

G. Saindon

DG Science Partnerships

S. Morgan-Jones

DG Science & Innovation Strategy

TBA

DG Innovation

TBA

Chief Scientist, International

Y. Martel

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THANK YOU – MERCI!

Thank you!

Questions?

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