Canada and Germany announce closer ties in agricultural research
Monday, May 22 2017/ Government of Canada/ Canada.
https://www.canada.ca
The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, joined the Honourable Christian Schmidt, German Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, in Prince Edward Island to announce that Canada and Germany will work closer together in four areas of agricultural research:
- Sustainable agriculture and climate change, particularly in the areas of protecting soil and water and breeding crops that are more resistant to the effects of climate change;
- Agri-food, including crop breeding for nutrition and health and reducing food waste and loss;
- Sharing best management practices for knowledge and technology transfer to farmers and industry; and
- Personnel exchange, including exchanges of scientists and students between Canada and Germany to build on opportunities for collaboration.
Canada and Germany enjoy close and friendly relations, reflected in their active cooperation on the international stage as well as their healthy economic and investment partnership. Germany has been a strong science partner with AAFC for over a decade, especially in the areas of crop development and animal health.
The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) will give Canadian farmers, processors and exporters duty-free access to more than half a billion consumers across the EU, the world's largest import market for agriculture and agri-food. This agreement will help generate jobs and grow the middle-class.
Germany continues to be a significant trading partner for Canada and is growing in importance both as an export destination and as a source of imports.
Quick Facts
Canada's agri-food exports to Germany in 2016 were $321 million, which represents Canada's eighth-largest export market.
Germany is a key science and trade partner for Canada and a leading member of the European Union.
Cooperation in science and technology between Canada and Germany occurs under the Canada-Germany Science & Technology Agreement, which was signed in 1971.