5 BIG Reasons Why Agriculture Makes Canada Stronger

5 BIG Reasons Why Agriculture Makes Canada Stronger

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To secure a stronger and more prosperous future for Canadians, we must fully harness our greatest industries – and agriculture is unquestionably among the most important. From coast to coast, Canadian farmers, ranchers, and processors grow and produce the food that sustains families here at home and around the globe.

But this sector does far more than feed us. Agriculture and agri-food support millions of jobs, drive exports that help pay for the goods we import, and anchor economic activity in rural and small-town communities across the country.

At a time of rising costs and global uncertainty, a strong domestic agricultural sector is key to creating employment opportunities, ensuring food security, and fostering long-term prosperity. The following five reasons show how this vital industry already makes Canada stronger – and how backing it today can help build a more resilient country for generations to come.

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#1 – Agriculture & Agri-Food Provide Millions of Jobs

Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector is a critically important job creator. In 2024, it employed about 2.3 million people, accounting for 1 in 9 jobs nationwide; millions of Canadians rely directly on the sector to put food on the table for their families [1].

These jobs span the entire food system – from primary agriculture on farms and ranches to food/drink processing, retail, wholesale, restaurants, and other related services [1], supporting both rural communities and urban municipalities. Farms, ranches, and primary production dominate rural and small-town Canada, while processing plants operate in or near mid-sized and large cities. Head offices, research and development labs, and administrative roles are concentrated in major urban centres. Foodservice jobs, like those in restaurants, are found in virtually every community.

Put simply, when the agriculture and agri-food sector is strong, millions of Canadians have work, communities thrive, and Canada as a whole is stronger.

#2 – Agriculture Is a Major Economic Driver of the Canadian Economy

Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector is a major pillar of our national economy. In 2024, the industry accounted for $151 billion – nearly 7% – of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) [2], underscoring its importance to our overall prosperity. The food and beverage processing subsector alone is the largest manufacturing sector in Canada, accounting for 17.2% of manufacturing GDP and 17.6% of manufacturing jobs nationwide [1].

Its economic impact is felt in communities of all sizes. Farms and agri-businesses are often anchor employers and consumers in small towns, buying inputs like fuel, fertilizer, and seed locally. They also support a wide range of secondary and tertiary businesses – from construction and repair services to retail – making the sector structurally important to rural and regional economies across the country.

Put together, these facts show that the agricultural sector not only feeds Canadians, but is an irreplaceable and powerful economic engine that helps drive growth, jobs, and opportunity nationwide.

#3 – Agriculture Is One of Canada’s Most Important Export Powerhouses

Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector is a quiet giant in our export story that often doesn't get the attention it deserves. In 2024, it accounted for roughly 13% of Canada’s total exports, valued at about $102 billion [3]. Those sales help pay for the electronics, machinery, chemicals, plastics, and everyday consumer goods Canadians import and rely on, keeping our economy moving and our standard of living high.

Canada’s AG exports are heavily concentrated in a handful of key markets – the United States (61.9%), China (9.6%), Japan (4.6%), the European Union (4.4%), and Mexico (2.2%) [2]. While this concentration shows the immense scale of our existing trade relationships, it also underscores why Canada must keep diversifying into new markets to stay resilient when disputes and challenges arise – as we are seeing now with the U.S.

When Canada’s agricultural exports are strong, our trade balances improve, our dollar is stronger and more secure, and Canadians are better able to afford the goods and services we rely on – all while strengthening our place in the world as a trusted, reliable supplier of food.

#4 – Agriculture Strengthens Rural Communities & Supports Indigenous Partnerships

The agricultural supply chain – from the farmer’s field to the grocery shelf – is the backbone of many rural and small-town communities across Canada. Farms, ranches, and agri-businesses act as anchor employers and major local customers, supporting everything from equipment dealers and input suppliers to construction firms, repair shops, retailers, and service providers. The economic activity supported by the AG sector enables Canada’s rural communities to better sustain schools, health services, and local infrastructure, giving families the chance to build long-term livelihoods close to home.

The sector also creates meaningful opportunities for Indigenous communities as landowners, producers, business partners, and employees. Increased Indigenous participation in farming operations alone represents a potential $1.5 billion boost to primary agriculture GDP in Canada [4]. Partnerships in farming, ranching, processing, and agri-services can support jobs, own-source revenues, and long-term economic development for First Nations communities across the country.

By helping sustain vibrant rural towns and expanding Indigenous participation, a healthy agriculture and agri-food sector contributes to a more inclusive, more balanced kind of prosperity – one that truly makes Canada stronger for everyone.

#5 – Agriculture Strengthens Canada’s Standing on the Global Stage

As a top-ten agricultural exporter with just 0.5% of the world’s population, Canada plays an outsized role in global food security. We export key commodities like wheat, canola, pulses, beef, seafood, and pork, helping feed countries with limited land, water, and food production capacity. As supply chain disruptions, geopolitical conflicts, and other pressures put greater strain on food systems, dependable exporters like Canada become even more important.

Our contribution also goes beyond what we grow in the field. Canada is one of the world’s leading producers of potash, a critical ingredient in fertilizer that farmers everywhere depend on to maintain and increase crop yields. By supplying both food and the nutrients needed to grow it, Canada helps stabilize global production and reduces the risk that local problems escalate into broader food crises.

In short, when Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector is strong, we’re not just looking after our own people – we’re helping feed a hungry world and giving Canada a more critically important and influential role on the global stage.

The World Needs More Canadian Agriculture!

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Canada’s agriculture and agri-food story is ultimately about people: the families it feeds, the communities it sustains, and the opportunities it creates across our country and around the world. By understanding, supporting, and championing this sector, we’re choosing a stronger, more resilient, and more self-reliant Canada.

Now is the time to stand behind Canadian agriculture and agri-food – and the Canadians who make it possible every day. Join us today to learn more!

SOURCES:

1 - https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/sector/overview

2 - https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/department/transparency/briefing-documents/aafc-transition-books/book-1-sector-overview-ministers-transition-book-2025-aafc

3 - https://www.capp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Canadian-Exports-of-Crude-Oil-and-Natural-Gas.pdf

4 - https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/knowledge/economics/indigenous-agriculture-opportunities