April 16, 2025

Our Culture Advisory Group team had the opportunity to attend a compelling presentation by Food and Beverage Ontario this morning, showcasing the results of groundbreaking research conducted by MNP in partnership with Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab. The research presents the first-ever Global Agri-Food Most Influential Nations Ranking, offering critical insights into Canada’s position within the global food landscape.

Where Canada Stands

The comprehensive analysis, which evaluates the competitiveness of G20 nations in the global food and beverage sector, positions Canada at 11th overall. The ranking highlights Canada’s strong food security and natural resources but identifies critical areas for improvement to enhance global competitiveness.

While Canada performs well in food security and political stability, its primary weaknesses lie in innovation, trade diversification, regulatory efficiency, and interprovincial trade barriers. These findings provide valuable direction for industry leaders and policymakers looking to strengthen Canada’s position in the global agri-food marketplace.

Key Areas for Improvement

The report identifies three critical areas requiring urgent attention:

1. Support for Entrepreneurs: Small businesses face significant hurdles due to complex regulatory frameworks, reducing their ability to scale and innovate. Streamlining these processes could unleash innovation and growth among smaller players in the food industry.
2. National Food Strategy: Canada lacks a cohesive food policy, limiting its ability to address food security challenges and capitalize on its agricultural strengths. A unified approach would better position the country to leverage its natural advantages.
3. Innovation and R&D: Insufficient investment in research and development hampers advancements in agri-tech, sustainability, and value-added processing. Increased focus on innovation could transform Canada’s potential into tangible market advantages.

Industry Insights

Matt MacDonald, National Leader for Food & Beverage Processing at MNP, emphasized that “Canada’s ranking reflects its potential, but also the need for urgent action. By focusing on innovation and streamlining regulatory processes, we can transform challenges into opportunities to cement our leadership in the global agri-food sector.”

Similarly, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab, stressed that “Canada’s agri-food sector has immense promise” but requires strategic improvements to climb the global rankings.

Canada’s Strengths to Build Upon

Despite the challenges, the report highlights significant Canadian advantages:

• Canada ranks 3rd in food security among G20 nations, making it one of the most food-secure countries globally
• The country maintains a substantial agri-food trade surplus of $13.3 billion, ranking fifth among G20 nations
• Canada has advanced technologies and efficient supply chains in place

Moving Forward

The report serves as both a wake-up call and a roadmap for Canada’s agri-food sector. As the report notes, “closing the gap will require collaboration across the entire agri-food industry — from government to businesses to everyday consumers.”

For our Culture Advisory Group clients, these findings underscore the importance of embracing innovation, navigating regulatory frameworks efficiently, and developing strategic approaches to both domestic and international markets.

The ongoing conversation about these findings continues today at MNP’s “Building a stronger agri-food future for Canada” event in Mississauga, featuring Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and industry experts from Mondelez Canada, Sipology, and Sonora Foods Ltd.

We’ll continue to monitor developments in this critical sector and provide updates on emerging opportunities and challenges. A summary of the report https://tinyurl.com/55zmkfv9