The agri-food sector is a significant driver in the province, employing 1 in 9 Ontarians and representing $36.4 billion in GDP. In Fertile Ground: Growing the Competitiveness of Ontario’s Agri-food Sector, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce highlights the economic contributions of the sector, while recognizing that a variety factors are adversely affecting its competitiveness, and the capacity of industry to meet the Premier’s challenge to double its annual growth rate and create 120,000 jobs by 2020.

The report argues that, in order to sustain the competitiveness of agriculture and food processing sector in Ontario, it is critical that government adopt an approach to regulatory management that is flexible and responsive to the economic context in which agribusinesses operate. In order to attract, retain and grow businesses in the sector, government must also develop a strategic framework that promotes the efficient production of food products, develops the skills of its workforce, improves access to risk management tools, and incentivizes innovation in the sector.

CLICK HERE to read the report.

---

For more information please contact: Huzaifa Saeed | Policy & Research Analyst | Hamilton Chamber of Commerce | t: 905-522-1151 ext:230 | e: h.saeed@hamiltonchamber.ca

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on LinkedIn