Published plans and annual reports 2025–2026: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness

Ministry overview

Ministry’s vision

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) helps build a sustainable, resilient, and trusted agri-food system that drives economic growth.

Ministry purpose and priorities

The ministry provides the foundation for farms, agri-food processors, and agribusinesses to thrive through strong legislative frameworks, policies, programs, regulatory oversight, knowledge transfer and strong stakeholder relationships.

OMAFA helps Ontarians by safeguarding Ontario’s food system, fostering sustainable agricultural practices and protecting animal and plant health. Through responsible investment and rigorous oversight, the ministry helps maintain stability and resilience of the agribusiness value chain. Our thriving agri-food and agribusiness sectors benefit from enduring partnerships and the adoption of innovative technologies.

The ministry focuses on driving growth, innovation and sustainability in farming and food processing, with a commitment to three key objectives:

1. Ensuring a safe food system and maintaining animal and plant health.
2. Fostering a thriving agri-food and agribusiness sector through innovation and investment.
3. Securing a sustainable, stable and resilient food supply for Ontarians.

To achieve these goals, OMAFA:

• Promotes food safety, animal and plant health, and environmental protection through the establishment of standards and regulations.
• Manages animal and pollinator health and welfare, and plant health by conducting inspection, surveillance and monitoring activities.
• Enhances food safety in Ontario by delivering the provincial food safety inspection program for meat, dairy, produce and fish that are subject to provincial regulations.
• Helps to prevent and respond to farm animal and plant diseases by providing education, technical advice and tools, and by developing plans, programs and partnerships.
• Advances Ontario’s economic interests domestically and in key international markets through programs and services.
• Leads collaboration between government and industry, including trade missions, to enable export growth and trade expansion.
• Implements significant partnership frameworks and agreements including the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) and the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance (Alliance).
• Advances new products, processes and practices by supporting and delivering research and supporting the sector through knowledge translation programs, tools and techniques.
• Promotes economic growth and job creation in the agri-food sector by investing in businesses across the province that enhance food processing capacity, adopt innovative and new technologies in agri-food workplaces, and create opportunities for growth.
• Builds sector competitiveness, innovation and resiliency by designing and delivering programs, and enabling a regulated marketing system.
• Helps Ontario farmers manage risks beyond their control through Business Risk Management (BRM) programming.
• Promotes environmental sustainability through legislation, policies, programs and tools, and fosters joint leadership and action from a wide, interconnected web of players to ensure the long-term economic viability, competitiveness and resiliency of the agri-food sector, and to ensure the land is sustainably managed for future generations.
• Works with federal, provincial and territorial partners (FPT), in addition to Indigenous organizations and communities, to support the agri-food sector and sustainable food production.
• Provides planning, knowledge and support to clients prior to and during emergencies to ensure food security, health and safety and protection of the plant and animals.

Ministry programs

Strong agriculture, food and bio-product sectors and strong rural communities

Ontario has one of the most diverse agri-food sectors in the world, producing over 200 different commodities.  A strong agri-food sector helps boost Ontario’s economy, creates good jobs and puts food on the tables of Ontarians. In 2023, Ontario’s agri-food sector contributed $50.7 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) to the provincial economy and supported over 871,000 jobs, representing 11% of the province’s labour force.

The Grow Ontario Strategy sets out a bold vision for the future of the agri-food sector to ensure that it is innovative, strong and continues to produce an efficient, reliable and responsive food supply.

Economic development

The ministry enables innovation and helps strengthen the social, economic and environmental sustainability of a diverse agri-food sector, working with partners to coordinate a wide range of initiatives.

OMAFA provides support through programs such as the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), which provides federal and provincial cost-sharing support through initiatives such as:

• The Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative which helps eligible farmers and food processors invest in new technologies, equipment and processes to improve productivity and efficiency.
• The Grow Ontario Market Initiative, which supports producers, processors and industry organizations to grow their business through marketing analysis and planning, new product development and marketing activities to find, develop and capture new or expand domestic or export market opportunities.
• The Meat Processors Capacity Improvement Initiative, which helps eligible free-standing meat plants and abattoirs purchase equipment that will help improve their operational efficiency and productivity.
• The Growing Future Opportunities Initiative, which provides eligible producers with funding to purchase apple, tender fruit and table or wine grape plants.

Other economic development programs include:

• The Strategic Agri-Food Processing Fund, which enhances processing capacity in Ontario through investments in major expansions and modernization of food processing facilities focusing on critical needs for the sector supply chain or broader strategic benefits.
• The Grassroots Growth Initiative, which provides support to organizations that create broader opportunities and greater benefits for the agri-food sector.
• The Foodland Ontario program, which helps increase awareness and celebrates local food. It also helps consumers to identify and choose Ontario food when shopping by encouraging Ontario businesses to use the Foodland Ontario logo on their food products.

In support of domestic agriculture production, the ministry provides education events, workshops and develops material on several different platforms (such as social media and newsletters). These cover a range of topics including production efficiency, pest and disease management, best management practices, sustainability, biosecurity, emergency preparedness, on farm applied research and other relevant topics.

Trade

The agri-food sector is highly interconnected with the United States and dependent on strong relationships with American governments and partners. Ontario is Canada’s leading province for agri-food trade flows, contributing significantly to its position as the largest primary agricultural sector by output. In 2023, Ontario-U.S. two-way agri-food trade was valued at $45.1 billion CAD, creating jobs and supporting economies on both sides of the border, from farmers to food processors, importers and retailers. The U.S. is Ontario’s largest agri-food export market, representing $21.6 billion of agri-food exports in 2023. Ontario's agri-food sector is susceptible to impacts from U.S. tariffs and other actions that threaten export-dependent sectors and the commodity marketing system. The Ontario government has proposed a plan to protect Ontario from the potential impacts of U.S. tariffs by strengthening the economy through measures to unlock free trade and labour mobility.

Through Ontario’s Grow Ontario Strategy, the government has a goal of achieving 8% annual export growth through to 2032. Ontario is committed to supporting increasing trade to grow the economy and create jobs through the removal of interprovincial trade barriers.

In the interest of the food and beverage processors, ministry staff work across the province to provide resources, connections and supports to help grow Ontario’s food and beverage businesses. Ministry advisors assist food and beverage processors with investments to be competitive and realize the potential to expand their domestic and export markets. The trade support for Ontario agri-food businesses includes:

• The Grow Ontario Market Initiative, a $12 million initiative through Sustainable CAP, to help agribusinesses expand in domestic and foreign markets.
• Tradeshow events and trade missions to boost the visibility of Ontario products.
• Advice and resources to navigate trade regulations and market trends, and policy work to maintain broad market access.
• Business-to-business meeting programs for Ontario food and beverage manufacturers with major domestic and international retailers.
• Providing advice, resources and connections to businesses that specialize in co-packing and co-manufacturing services.
• Supporting businesses engaged in foreign direct investment, incoming, outgoing and site selector missions.

Agribusiness

Ontario’s agri-food sector is large, increasingly productive and generally recession resilient but faces risks that include increasing volatile worldwide commodity supplies and potential U.S. tariffs. Ontario’s strengths in value-added products and global growth in food demand present opportunities that can be seized by enabling an innovative and competitive agribusiness value chain. The sector, representing the largest food processing sector in the country, stands as a central economic pillar, with productivity growth in primary agriculture and food manufacturing marking Ontario’s ongoing leadership in the agri-food sector. Ontario's integrated role in the North American and global food systems further enhances the province’s ability to maintain ample food supplies and relatively stable food prices, even amidst challenges like fertilizer prices, fuel and food costs, adverse weather, and potential future supply chain disruptions.

Ontario’s agri-food sector is also underpinned by a robust network of supporting agribusinesses that span the entire value chain. The province is home to Canada’s largest farm product and food and beverage wholesale sectors, which are essential in distributing both raw and processed products domestically and across the country. Additionally, Ontario’s agricultural input supply sector, second in size only to Saskatchewan, ensures that farms have consistent access to the tools and materials they need to operate efficiently year-round.

Research

Scientific research in agri-food leads to new discoveries that strengthen Ontario’s supply of healthy and safe food and provide Ontario farmers and businesses with the information they need to be competitive and sustainable.

Research and innovation are a cornerstone of the agri-food sector’s success. Ontario is a leader in agri-food research, innovation, and best practices, and OMAFA invests in several research programs supporting the sector. This includes collaboration with the University of Guelph and the Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO) through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance. Over the last 20 years, the province has seen 95% productivity growth in primary agriculture and a 12% increase in food manufacturing productivity. These efforts support Ontario's competitiveness and sustainability in agri-food. Ontario's agricultural producers have consistently increased yields year over year. In 2021, primary production rose by 8.5% to reach $9.5 billion, representing a 156% increase compared to the year 2000. Between 2000 and 2024, farm cash receipts in Ontario grew by nearly 200%, driven by both price and production increases. When adjusting for price changes, it is estimated that actual farm production rose by almost 60% over that period, largely due to productivity gains.

The Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance with the University of Guelph is a key pillar that supports Ontario agri-food research and innovation. The Alliance provides expertise and access to a unique agri-food research, laboratory analysis and knowledge transfer system. This is done through the provision of agri-food research, laboratory services, veterinary education, research centre management and the new addition of regulatory training and education for agricultural producers.

OMAFA works with industry, academia, agencies such as ARIO, other Ontario ministries, provincial governments and the federal government to advance research and innovation. This further solidifies the province’s position as a global leader in agri-food capacity building and skills development, research and innovation.

The results are seen in many innovative projects, such as technological developments that have been commercialized and adopted to support future policy and program decisions affecting agri-food sector needs. In addition, this support has helped launch spin-off companies and Ontario-developed intellectual property, resulting in economic development and contributing to the ministry’s Key Performance Indicator (KPI) to support business innovation.

The ministry works with industry and other partners to focus research priorities, co-invest in research projects and infrastructure and to encourage adoption by applying formal research into knowledge and technology transfer activities.

OMAFA also invests in open research programs and projects to enhance food safety, soil health, plant and animal health, water management, bioproducts development and precision agriculture.

OMAFA is implementing a strategy to modernize its research and innovation programs and services. Through ARIO, the ministry continues to modernize its research infrastructure.

The Grow Ontario Strategy outlines goals to enhance research and innovation, which support the ministry’s KPI for the number of patents and licenses granted through ministry funded research. These goals include:

• Build and maintain world-class research infrastructure to encourage the use of innovation and enhance the sustainability and profitability of the agri-food sector.
• Grant over 250 patents and licences through OMAFA-funded research by 2030.
• Develop innovative technologies to advance uptake of new innovations.
• Ensure the translation and transfer of research into practical solutions for Ontario’s agri-food sector, getting the research from the lab onto the farm.
• Grow the market for Ontario innovative technologies domestically and globally.
• Grow the use of data to support business decisions and increase efficiencies within the agri-food sector and value chain.
• Work with sectors to better measure data driven solutions.

Business Risk Management (BRM) transfers

Farmers can access a suite of federal-provincial BRM programs under the Sustainable CAP, such as AgriStability, AgriInsurance and AgriInvest to manage risks beyond their control. These programs are cost-shared with the federal government contributing 60% and the provinces/territories contributing 40%.

The national BRM suite is expected to provide over $1 billion over five years in support for Ontario’s farmers through Sustainable CAP. Ontario is a national leader in providing risk management support to farmers to protect the food supply system from events beyond their control. The Ontario government is increasing annual funding for its Risk Management Program (RMP) from $150 million to $250 million to enhance support for farmers and the province’s $51 billion agri-food sector. The $100 million increase will support farmers in responding to market challenges while boosting their long-term business confidence and competitiveness. Recent changes also allow funds to roll forward in good years, so these funds are available to help farmers in more difficult years.

Agriculture, food and agribusiness capital

OMAFA’s research is supported by ARIO and includes a network of 14 research stations, labs and related agricultural infrastructure. These facilities provide research capacity to support industry-driven research, while leveraging third party investments to ensure the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the agri-food sector. Several major capital projects were recently completed to modernize key research platforms supporting field crops, livestock and aquaculture.

Better public health and environment

Ontario ensures that we have a food supply system that is resilient, competitive and productive, and that meets the ambitious goals of the Grow Ontario Strategy. OMAFA’s environmental programs support a sustainable, competitive food system that is resilient to climate change and meets public and market expectations for sustainability. The agri-food sector’s strong foundation rests on the large-scale agricultural output of Ontario’s over 48,000 farms, helping ensure a resilient landscape that sustains agriculture’s future.

Food safety

Food safety is a shared responsibility among industry, consumers and regulators.

Ontario’s food safety laws and programs are part of a broader system to help protect the health of the public. They are designed to identify and address potential food safety hazards.

OMAFA enforces several provincial regulations to help protect the safety of the food that is produced, manufactured and marketed in Ontario and delivers inspection oversight for provincially regulated meat, dairy and fish products, monitors and tests foods of plant origin, and supports investigations into foodborne illness. Food produced in Ontario is regulated and inspected to help ensure food safety and maintain public and market confidence in our food supply. The Dairy Farmers of Ontario are the delegated authority with oversight for cow milk inspection programs. Ontario’s food safety framework helps maintain the quality of over 200 different commodities.

Emergency management for animal and plant health risks

The ministry is responsible for the Ontario government’s emergency management activities related to farm animal diseases, food contamination, agricultural plant diseases and pest infestations and engages with industry groups, federal regulators and provincial ministries to be prepared to respond.

The ministry has developed programming to enhance the agri-food sector’s capacity to develop, improve and implement effective practices to mitigate disruptions, improve public trust and consumer confidence and help the sector thrive. This programming provides directed and cost-share funding to support biosecurity, animal health management, animal disease preparedness, food safety modernization, plant health management and plant pest surveillance, monitoring and diagnostics.

OMAFA leads Ontario's efforts in managing prevention, detection and response efforts to plant and animal health risks. The ministry works with federal agencies and industry to address foreign diseases like avian influenza, foot-and-mouth, African swine fever and plant pest risks including invasive species.

The ministry has a critical role in farm animal disease emergencies, working closely with the Chief Medical Officer of Health to monitor zoonotic diseases and mitigate risks to both animal and human health. The ministry is also working with industry and government partners on preparedness and response planning related to African swine fever and foot and mouth disease. The ministry works closely with federal, provincial and ministry partners to further prevent avian influenza and monitor the health of livestock and poultry in Ontario.

To aid in the detection of unusual disease events, Ontario has a robust animal health surveillance system and works with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to monitor the health of livestock.

Environmental stewardship 

OMAFA has established itself as a recognized and trusted source for information and advice around environmental stewardship in the agri-food sector. Building on a long history of strong partnerships and collaboration, the ministry takes a multi-faceted approach to supporting environmental sustainability through impactful legislation, targeting programming and initiatives, supporting on-farm decision-making and measuring progress to demonstrate impact.

The Grow Ontario Strategy identifies Ontario’s commitment to increase agri-food innovation and adoption to help farmers become the best stewards of the land and environment and continue to demonstrate leadership in sustainability.

Improving productivity and resilience of agricultural lands is a key element of environmental sustainability. To help the industry be more sustainable, the ministry has provided targeted funding in key areas, for example:

• The Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP), a five-year, $56.7 million program funded through Sustainable CAP that supports land uses that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon.
• $9.5 million over the next three years to further improve soil data mapping and soil evaluation and monitoring. These tools will ensure farmers can sustain their soil and find ways to augment soil health.
• The On-Farm Applied Research and Monitoring (ONFARM) program, an investment of $7 million to help farmers understand best on-farm practices and their effect on soil health and water quality.
• The Agricultural Stewardship Initiative, an up to $14 million program funded through Sustainable CAP, to help eligible farmers implement best management practices that support improvements to soil health, water quality and energy efficiency.
• Making enhancements to AgriSuite to modernize and enhance the technology platform that provides custom plans to support soil health best management practice adoption.
• Provided support for Environmental Farm Plan and the Farm Land Health Check-Up to promote the adoption of best management practices.

Regulatory Compliance Ontario 

OMAFA is home to Regulatory Compliance Ontario, a Centre of Excellence that serves 19 ministries across the OPS that are responsible for the delivery of programs and services with a regulatory compliance component. RCO delivers foundational training and provides consultation and program development support to help ensure Ontario's compliance programs are delivered consistent with the Modern Regulator's code of practice.

Policy development

OMAFA provides evidence-based policy analysis and advice in support of ministry and government priorities to foster economic growth in Ontario's agri-food sector, provide assurance and oversight of the agri-food system and supply chains, and protect the productive capacity and sustainability of Ontario’s natural resources. 

The ministry advances Ontario's agri-food priorities and interests on issues of provincial, national and interprovincial importance, fostering strong intergovernmental working relationships and providing leadership at key federal, provincial and territorial tables. The ministry leads policy development and negotiations on intergovernmental agricultural policy and funding frameworks, including the current Sustainable CAP. The Policy Division also provides policy leadership and direction on Indigenous relations matters, including internal capacity building, and supports the minister and parliamentary assistant at key intergovernmental meetings with municipal partners.

Trade policy activity includes providing advice on trade negotiations and market access, conducting impact assessments on trade issues, planning and delivering trade missions to target markets, advocating for Ontario's agri-food interests, and monitoring trade information and statistics. 

OMAFA leads the policy, legislative and regulatory development process related to agriculture and food to enhance and protect the environment (air, water, land and biodiversity), food safety, food quality and agri-food protection including animal health. It also provides policy analysis and support in these subject areas to other provincial ministries and the federal government.  

OMAFA works collaboratively with other ministries and its agencies to support and advance government priorities across the agri-food sector. A key partner in this work is the Ontario Farms Products Marketing Commission (OFPMC), a regulatory agency of the ministry. The OFPMC administers the Farm Products Marketing Act, the Milk Act, and related regulations, and oversees Ontario’s 22 marketing boards and three representative associations. Through this oversight, the commission ensures that delegated authorities are exercised in a way that supports a strong, competitive and sustainable agricultural production and processing system for the benefit of all Ontarians.

OMAFA develops policies and provides oversight for a suite of financial risk management programs to help farmers and producers such as the national BRM programs (AgriInsurance, AgriStability), Ontario’s Risk Management Program, Feeder-Cattle, Commodity and Ginseng Storage Loan Programs, Financial Protection for cattle and grains and Wildlife Damage Compensation.

Ministry administration

OMAFA continues to provide high quality customer service and efficient program delivery. The ministry is committed to making its public facing services simpler, faster, better and digitally modernized to continuously improve program and operational delivery that are aligned with the Digital Service Standard.

OMAFA will continue to support the expansion of the publication of open data to Ontario’s Data Catalogue including an enhanced focus on government agency data.

2025–26 Strategic plan

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) plays a vital role in supporting the sector by offering financial assistance and program support, including trade enhancement plans and sector investment programs. Additionally, OMAFA manages and mitigates risks related to human, animal, plant and environmental health through regulatory oversight, targeted funding, education, technology transfer and research. This comprehensive approach supports the resilience and stability of the agri-food sector by fostering innovation, sustainable practices and strong stakeholder relationships.

Through responsible investment, rigorous oversight and strategic partnerships, OMAFA supports the ongoing success of Ontario’s agri-food sector while safeguarding the province’s food system for future generations.

OMAFA also plays a role in supporting the Ontario government’s priorities, including protecting Ontario by creating opportunities for job creation, attracting investment and cutting red tape. By supporting agribusinesses and increasing competitiveness through our Grow Ontario Strategy, OMAFA can ensure that the agri-food sector and the food supply chain remains stable, resilient and able to withstand potential challenges.

The Grow Ontario Strategy (Grow Ontario)

The Grow Ontario Strategy sets out a bold vision for the future of the agri-food sector to ensure it is innovative, efficient, reliable and continues to produce a responsive food supply.

Actions outlined in the strategy support the ministry’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) , including the number of new technologies, practices, processes assessed, evaluated and/or demonstrated and dollars of investment influenced, and jobs created/retained in food and beverage manufacturing.

Grow Ontario outlines three key priorities:

• Strengthening agri-food supply chain stability.
• Increasing agri-food technology and adoption.
• Attracting and growing Ontario’s agri-food talent.

Strategic focus areas in support of the Grow Ontario Strategy

Grow Ontario Strategy priority: Strengthen agri-food supply chain stability

Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership

Sustainable CAP helps enable the goals outlined in the Grow Ontario Strategy to grow exports such as increasing the production of food by 30% over the next 10 years, growing agri-food exports by 8% annually, and building and maintaining world-class research infrastructure.

Sustainable CAP helps position Ontario’s agri-food sector for continued success as a world leader in environmentally, economically and socially sustainable agriculture. This includes a 25% increase in funding for strategic initiatives to support Ontario’s sector over the life of the framework, and a renewed suite of demand-driven, business risk management supports that help farmers manage risks beyond their control.

A critical component to the Sustainable CAP program is the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP) a five-year, $56.7 million program that supports land uses that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon. This targeted initiative is part of a comprehensive and multi-faceted suite of Sustainable CAP environment and climate change programming intended to build the sustainability, resiliency, competitiveness and productive capacity of the sector.

Food safety, animal and plant health and emergency preparedness

OMAFA is dedicated to continued enhancement of food safety, animal and pollinator health and welfare through compliance. This includes activities such as inspection, testing and audit, education and outreach, advisory services, investigations, surveillance and emergency preparedness planning. The ministry continues its work as an effective, consistent and risk-based modern regulator by working closely with farmers and processors to set clear expectations to achieve food safety and animal and pollinator health and welfare requirements and by supporting long-term sustainability in the industry and workforce.

The ministry also supports the agri-food sector by providing knowledge and support to clients prior to and during emergencies to underpin food security and ensure health and safety and protection of the plant and animal food resource base. This includes prevention and biosecurity efforts and preparations for emergency responses to diseases which are not currently in Ontario but could have significant impacts if not prevented, such as African swine fever (ASF) and foot and mouth disease, and plant pests such as Spotted Lanternfly.

Under Sustainable CAP, the Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative supports the resiliency of the agri-food sector by providing funding opportunities to key agri-food sector businesses that are addressing biosecurity risks and enhancing emergency preparedness. OMAFA also works to identify and treat problems related to plant diseases (for example, vomitoxin in corn), and support industry and governments in developing emergency response and recovery plans. OMAFA and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency continue to work together to prepare for and respond to animal diseases with potentially significant economic impacts on the agricultural sector.

Cutting red tape and reducing regulatory burden

In full support of Grow Ontario, the ministry is committed to reducing red tape and unnecessary regulatory burden to lower operating costs for businesses and improve Ontario’s competitiveness.   

The ministry is working with the agri-food sector to reduce regulatory burden, while preserving the regulations that keep Ontarians, their environment and their food safe and healthy. By cutting red tape, government-wide efforts have saved Ontario’s agri-food sector over $3 million since 2018, giving farmers more time to run their farms and grow their businesses.

The ministry will continue to work with the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction on future initiatives that reduce burden for the agri-food sector to support industry competitiveness.

Federal-Provincial-Territorial relations

The ministry plays a leadership role in advancing the interests of Ontario’s agri-food sector through strong advocacy at FPT tables. In 2025–26, this will include moving forward on key topics of national interest such trade and market access, including opportunities to increase interprovincial trade; potential enhancements to business risk management programs; and animal disease preparedness, including African swine fever, foot and mouth disease and highly pathogenic avian influenza. Early discussions on the path forward to a new national agri-food policy framework for 2028 are also expected to begin in 2025–26.

Compliance services modernization

As part of the Ontario Onwards Action Plan and aligned with Grow Ontario and the OPS Service Strategy, the ministry has been working towards realizing its vision for Compliance Modernization. This is a multi-year initiative that builds on OMAFA’s strong foundation of protecting the public interest in food safety, plant health, animal health and welfare and the environment through a more consistently risk-based, client-focused and digital regulatory delivery model aligned with the Ontario Regulators' Code of Practice.

Compliance Modernization will establish a consistent, integrated inspection model across all commodities, enabling the ministry to detect and prevent risk effectively, while reducing red tape and streamlining processes for industry through the adoption of modern technology and tools to support industry and inspectors.

Grow Ontario priority: Increase agri-food technology and adoption

Supporting the agri-food sector and the Grow Ontario Strategy through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance

The Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance with the University of Guelph is a key pillar that supports Ontario agri-food research and innovation. OMAFA’s five-year agreement with the University of Guelph and the Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO) came into effect on April 1, 2023. Through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance, the ministry is investing over $343 million over the term of the agreement to help the broader agri-food sector build resiliency by:

• Managing threats to food production and food security such as African swine fever (ASF) and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
• Advancing science, research, innovation and commercialization of new products, processes and practices that support the long-term success of the agri-food system.
• Building a skilled workforce and developing talent that will advance Ontario’s agri-food sector and support veterinary medicine and rural communities.
• Maintaining and maximizing use of the Government of Ontario’s network of state-of-the art research centres through its agency, ARIO. These research centres are managed by the University of Guelph through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance.
• Leading to new discoveries that strengthen Ontario’s supply of healthy, safe food, and provide Ontario farmers and businesses with the information they need to be competitive and sustainable.

Grow Ontario priority: Attract and grow Ontario’s agri-food talent

Building a resilient and inclusive agri-food workforce

This strategic priority supports the development of a skilled, diverse and resilient workforce to meet the evolving needs of Ontario’s agri-food sector. It aligns with the Grow Ontario Strategy’s goal to ensure the sector remains competitive, innovative and sustainable by attracting, retaining and supporting talent across the value chain.

To address labour force challenges, Canada and Ontario are investing up to $4 million in the Labour Force Management Strategies Initiative to help primary producers and processors address local labour force challenges in the agri-food sector. The funding supports pilot projects that implement innovative attraction, recruitment and retention strategies.

OMAFA is improving access to veterinary care in remote and northern communities and training more veterinarians through the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program with the University of Guelph and Lakehead University. This program will enrol an additional 20 veterinary students per year starting in 2025–26, resulting in up to 80 new Doctor of Veterinary Medicine seats in total, the first increase in vet school spaces in Ontario since 1988.

OMAFA also launched the Veterinary Incentive Program to encourage recent veterinary graduates to practice food animal medicine in underserviced and northern communities. This program provides participants with annual grants totaling up to $50,000 conditional on the participant continuing to practice in these communities.

Detailed financial information

Combined operating and capital summary by vote

The ministry’s historical trends fluctuate primarily due to variability in its demand-driven programs, which make up most of its budget.

The increase in 2025–26 Estimates is primarily due to one-time funding for the alcohol support programming that OMAFA delivers on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, and the incremental increase planned for Ontario’s Risk Management Program as announced in the 2025 Ontario Budget.

For additional financial information, see:

• Expenditure estimates
• Public Accounts of Ontario: past editions
• 2025 Ontario Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario

Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABCs)

Agencies of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) perform a range of functions, including: delivering Business Risk Management (BRM) and other key programs; supervising Ontario’s 22 marketing boards and three representative commodity associations; and fulfilling other regulatory, operational and advisory functions.

The ministry is responsible for the governance and oversight of 9 provincial agencies in accordance with the Agencies and Appointments Directive. The following is a list of the ministry’s agencies, boards and commissions accountable to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness.

Agricorp

Type of agency: Board-governed/Operational enterprise

Constituting instrument: AgriCorp Act

Function: Agricorp was created in 1997 with a mandate to deliver crop insurance and other agricultural BRM programs. Agricorp delivers three core programs: AgriStability; Production Insurance and the suite of Risk Management Programs; as well as several smaller programs, such as the Farm Property Class Tax Rate Program.

Agricorp delivers programs that are funded by both the provincial and federal governments, and by stakeholders.

Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO)

Type of agency: Board-governed/Operational service agency

Constituting instrument: Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. A.13

Function: ARIO is focused on ensuring Ontario maintains its competitive advantage by enabling high impact and transformational research for Ontario’s agriculture, food and agribusiness sectors. The agency’s objectives are:

• To provide advice to the minister on research and innovation for agriculture and food, including equipment and technology, veterinary medicine and the needs of rural communities as those matters relate to agriculture and food.
• To establish programs for research and innovation for agriculture and food, including equipment and technology, veterinary medicine and the needs of rural communities as those matters relate to agriculture and food, and to encourage and facilitate such programs.
• To consult with academic and research experts, producers, processors, industry and other organizations in the agri-food sector to determine emerging research needs and to promote and co-ordinate research.
• To establish and strengthen relationships that enhance research and innovation for agriculture and food, including enhancing research and innovation on matters such as equipment and technology, veterinary medicine and the needs of rural communities, as those matters relate to agriculture and food.
• To stimulate interest in research as a means of increasing innovation and commercialization for agriculture and food, including equipment and technology, veterinary medicine and the needs of rural communities as those matters relate to agriculture and food.
• To encourage and facilitate knowledge translation and transfer for agriculture and food, including equipment and technology, veterinary medicine and the needs of rural communities as those matters relate to agriculture and food. 2024, c. 8, s.

Ontario Food Terminal Board (OFTB)

Type of agency: Board-governed/Operational enterprise

Constituting instrument: Ontario Food Terminal Act

Function: The OFTB has a mandate to acquire, construct, equip and operate a wholesale market primarily for agricultural products, and operate such facility for the distribution and handling of agricultural products.

Non-consolidated agencies

Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal (AFRAAT)

Type of agency: Non board-governed/Adjudicative

Constituting instrument: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act

Function: The function of the AFRAAT is to provide a fair and impartial hearing and decision process for stakeholders who are aggrieved by a direction, policy, order, or decision, or who require the resolution of a dispute pursuant to one of 17 provincial statutes related to the agriculture and food industry. Most of the matters heard by the Tribunal arise from appeals of decisions made under the following eight statutes: Drainage Act; Agricultural Products Insurance Act, 1996; Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act (for appeals of decisions made under the Farm Products Marketing Act and the Milk Act); Assessment Act; Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001; Farm Registration and Farm Organizations Funding Act; Farm Implements Act; and Agricultural Employees Protection Act, 2002.

Normal Farm Practices Protection Board (NFPPB)

Type of agency: Non board-governed/Adjudicative

Constituting instrument: Farming and Food Production Protection Act, 1998

Function: The NFPPB reviews and resolves disputes related to an agricultural operation, including the determination of what constitutes as normal farm practice, and makes the necessary inquiries and orders to ensure compliance with its decisions.

Grain Financial Protection Board (GFPB)/Livestock Financial Protection Board (LFPB)

Type of agency: Board-governed/Trust

Constituting instrument: Farm Products Payments Act

Function: Under the Farm Products Payments Act, funds and boards are established to protect producers from non-payment by licensed buyers. 

Both boards collect fees, administer a compensation fund and make decisions on claims made against the funds. The fund set up under the Grain Financial Protection Program protects producers of grain corn, soybeans, wheat and canola in the event of defaults on payment by licensed buyers. It also protects owners of grain who store their grain in licensed grain elevators.

The fund set up under the Ontario Beef Cattle Financial Protection Program protects producers and other sellers of beef cattle in the event of defaults on payment by licensed buyers.

Business Risk Management Review Committee (BRMRC)

Type of agency: Advisory

Constituting instrument: Order in Council

Function: The BRMRC has the authority to consider requests for reviews and make non-binding recommendations to the program administrator for the following programs: AgriStability; Ontario's Risk Management Program (including Ontario's Self-Directed Risk Management Program); Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program; AgriRecovery; and any other program to which the Lieutenant Governor in Council or the minister assigns responsibility.

Ontario Farm Products Marketing Commission (OFPMC)

Type of agency: Non board-governed/Regulatory

Constituting instrument: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Act

Function: The OFPMC administers the provisions of the Farm Products Marketing Act (FPMA), the Milk Act and certain regulations governing regulated marketing. Under these Acts, the OFPMC is empowered to ensure the authorities that are delegated to Ontario’s 22 marketing boards and three representative associations are exercised for the benefit of Ontarians, by fostering thriving agricultural production and processing.  

The OFPMC focuses its work in three key areas, including:

• Regulated marketing framework oversight: Exercising its authorities to enable the regulated marketing system.
• Regulatory compliance: Supervising Ontario’s regulated boards and associations to ensure they operate within the powers and authorities given to them.
• Guidance, facilitation and dispute resolution: Encouraging industry solutions to challenges and opportunities.

Ministry organization chart (April 2025)

• Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness: Honourable Trevor Jones
  • OMAFA Classified Agencies
  • Parliamentary Assistant: Bill Rosenberg
  • Parliamentary Assistant: Paul Vickers
  • Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness: John Kelly
    • Chief Information Officer Land and Resources IT Cluster^{footnote 3[3]}: Claudio DeRose
    • Legal Services^{footnote 4[4]}: Natasha Wilson (Acting)
    • Communications Branch: David Spencer
    • Executive Advisor to the Deputy Minister: Caitlin Kelly (Acting)
    • Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic Development Division: Randy Jackiw
      • Director, Agriculture Development Branch: Colleen Fitzgerald-Hubble
      • Director, Economic Development Fund Administration Branch: Alan Crawley
      • Director, Labour, Trade and Economic Development Branch: Basia Florio
      • Director, Program Development and Integration Branch: Carolyn Hamilton
    • Assistant Deputy Minister, Food Safety and Environment Division: Renee Bowler
      • Director, Animal Health and Welfare Branch/Chief Veterinarian of Ontario: Dr. Greg Worley
      • Director, Environmental Management Branch: Cale Selby
      • Director, Food Safety Inspection Delivery Branch: Tanya Weber-Kinch
      • Director, Food Safety Systems Development Branch: Natasha Bartlett
    • Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy Division: David Hagarty
      • Director, Economic Development Policy Branch: Karl Maiterth
      • Director, Farm Finance Branch: Tamara Fernandes
      • Director, Food Safety and Environmental Policy Branch: Andrea Martin
      • Director, Strategic Policy Branch: David Meyer (Acting)
    • Chief Administrative Officer/Assistant Deputy Minister, Research and Corporate Services Division: Greg Wootton
      • Director, Audit Services Branch^{footnote 5[5]}: Edward Sheu
      • Director, Business Planning and Financial Management Branch: Jennifer Kidon
      • Director, Business Services Branch: Laurie Adrien
      • Director, Research and Innovation Branch: Doug Reddick
      • Director, Strategic Human Resources Branch: Alaina Oda

Annual report

Through the Grow Ontario Strategy, the ministry has a plan to strengthen the agri-food sector, fuel economic growth, ensure an efficient, reliable, and responsive food supply and address ongoing agri-food sector vulnerabilities through new innovations.

Since the Grow Ontario Strategy was released, great strides have been made towards advancing the strategy’s goals, including:

• Increasing Ontario’s agri-food exports by 8% year over year by 2032. Agri-food exports were $26.2 billion in 2023, a 10% increase from $23.8 billion in 2022.
• Having more than 250 patents and licences granted through research funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness by 2032. In 2024, 38 patents and licenses were granted through ministry-funded research.
• Increasing the consumption of food grown and prepared in Ontario by 30% by 2032. Foodland Ontario, recognized by eight out of 10 Ontario consumers, continued to increase awareness of locally produced food across the province. In 2024, Foodland Ontario recognized 60 grocery stores for their efforts to promote Ontario-grown produce through the Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards.
• Increasing economic opportunities in the agri-food sector with $400 million in investment and 2,453 jobs retained or created in 2024.

Grow Ontario Strategy priority: Strengthen agri-food supply chain stability

Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership

Sustainable CAP helps position Ontario’s agri-food sector for continued success as a world leader in environmentally, economically and socially sustainable agriculture. To help the industry be more sustainable, the ministry, through Sustainable CAP, provided targeted funding in key areas, for example:

• The Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP), the five-year, $56.7 million program that supports land uses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon.
• The On-Farm Applied Research and Monitoring (ONFARM) program, an investment of $7 million to help farmers understand best on-farm practices and their effect on soil health and water quality.
• The Agricultural Stewardship Initiative, representing a total investment of up to $14 million, to help eligible farmers implement best management practices that support improvements to soil health, water quality and energy efficiency.
• The Growing Future Opportunities Initiative, a three-year, $8 million initiative providing eligible fruit producers with cost-share funding to purchase vines or trees of popular fruit varieties. In 2024, $4.4 million was invested through the initiative to help 128 apple, tender fruit and table grape producers grow more popular and hardy varieties of produce.
• Investing $9.5 million over the next three years to further improve soil data mapping and soil evaluation and monitoring. These tools will ensure farmers can sustain their soil and find ways to augment soil health.
• Investing over $7 million in approved projects through the Grow Ontario Market Initiative, which helps Ontario agriculture and food businesses increase their sales in domestic and foreign markets. The five-year $12 million initiative was launched in 2023.
• Investing up to $7.5 million through the Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative to support 365 projects that will help the province’s farmers, food processors and essential farm-supporting agribusinesses protect their operations against pests and diseases while enhancing operational resilience and strengthening public trust in the food supply system. The funding is expected to generate up to $31.5 million in total biosecurity enhancements across Ontario’s agri-food sector.

Business Risk Management

As part of Sustainable CAP, Ontario continues to offer the core AgriStability, AgriInsurance and AgriInvest programs, and implements initiatives under the AgriRecovery framework.

• RMP provided more than $200 million to approximately 8,500 producers to manage risks beyond their control over the 2024 program year.
• In January 2025, OMAFA increased annual funding for RMP from $150 million to $250 million to enhance support for farmers and the province’s $51 billion agri-food sector. The $100 million increase will support farmers in responding to market challenges while boosting their long-term business confidence and competitiveness.
• OMAFA increased financing available through the Feeder Cattle Loan Guarantee Program to $500 million. The province also invested in the Ontario Beef Market Development Program to increase domestic and international sales.

Food safety, animal & plant health and emergency preparedness

• In 2024, $5 million was provided through the Food Safety and Growth Initiative to eligible food processors, producers and service providers to improve food safety systems, adopt new food safety and traceability equipment, technologies and standards and provide related training to employees. The funding enables operators to respond to market and consumer demands and grow their business.
• Up to $7.18 million was provided through the Dairy Processing Modernization Initiative for 70 projects across Ontario to enhance and modernize dairy processing capacity and food safety. The funding, which is cost-shared by the dairy sector, is expected to generate approximately $22 million in total capital investments, while reinforcing the supply of safe, high-quality Ontario milk on store shelves.
• Ontario’s food safety system proactively identifies and addresses hazards, responds to incidents and ensures compliance with legislated requirements. Food Safety Inspectors inspect meat plants, dairy goat farms, dairy and fish processors, and collect samples for microbiological testing, all of which are subject to provincial regulations. Food safety inspections in 2024–25 included:
  • 117 provincially licensed slaughter plants. Inspectors are present in provincially licensed abattoirs whenever slaughter operations occur to ensure food safety and animal welfare regulatory requirements are met. Three new slaughter plants were licensed.
  • 349 provincially licensed freestanding meat plants. Comprehensive inspections and sampling are conducted on a risk-based approach to ensure food safety requirements are met. 16 new freestanding meat plants were licensed.
  • 57 provincially licensed dairy plants. Inspectors conduct comprehensive annual inspections and conduct finished product and environmental testing and sampling to ensure compliance with standards. Six new dairy plants were licensed.
  • 26 provincially licensed fish processing plants. Inspectors are present to ensure food safety requirements are met.
  • 196 on-farm dairy goat milk operations.
  • Conducted a sampling program to support the Foods of Plant Origin sector, collecting and evaluating produce, honey and maple products for regulatory compliance, including microbiological and chemical risks.
  • In 2024-25, OMAFA collected 1,301 samples and swabs for testing in produce, honey and maple products produced and distributed in Ontario. In the event of an adverse food safety test result, immediate action is taken to ensure that consumers are protected, and issues are addressed and prevented from reoccurring.
• $1 million in funding was provided through Sustainable CAP to the Honey Bee Health Initiative to help improve the resiliency and competitiveness of beekeeper operations in Ontario.

Cutting red tape and reducing regulatory burden

Ontario has targeted unduly, costly and burdensome regulations to help businesses grow while maintaining its standards to keep Ontarians safe and healthy, such as:

• The ministry amended the Farm Implements Act to protect rural Ontario dealerships and reduce red tape while ensuring farmers have access to farm implements. These changes streamlined dispute resolution processes and reduced the burden for dealers by requiring a one-time registration with no annual renewals.
• Our government modernized the Line Fences Act to better serve Ontario’s municipalities and rural communities. The changes :
  • Assist in resolving fencing disputes between adjacent property owners more efficiently, particularly in rural areas where fencing costs are higher due to larger properties.
  • Aligned the Act with the government’s mandate of Building a Digital Ontario and Red Tape Reduction.
  • Reduced the burden on municipalities by streamlining the legislation to align it with the Municipal Act, 2001, and City of Toronto Act, 2001.
  • Updated outdated references and language, to make it easier to understand.

Federal-Provincial-Territorial relations

Ontario demonstrated leadership at Federal-Provincial-Territorial tables by advancing dialogue and driving action on key areas of focus for Ontario and Canada’s agri-food sector, including supporting the creation of and industry led process to ensure transparency and fair dealing in the grocery sector, advancing animal diseases preparedness activities and supporting efforts to increase trade and market access.

• In 2024, Ontario hosted a meeting of Federal, Provincial and Territorial ministers responsible for rural economic development in Niagara-on-the-Lake. This event brought together ministers and delegates from eight jurisdictions, joined by diverse voices, experts and on-the-ground practitioners. The meeting sparked multi-jurisdictional dialogue on how to effectively support rural economic development across Canada and galvanize coordinated action in support of rural communities.
• OMAFA is working with FPT partners to develop interprovincial trade pilot projects that are exploring opportunities to increase Ontario’s food production capacity, reduce barriers to interprovincial trade of meat, boost competitiveness in the agri-food sector and advance sector adoption of effective food safety protection systems.

Compliance services modernization (CSM)

Through the Compliance Services Modernization (CSM) initiative, OMAFA continues to move forward on a number of deliverables that will help establish a consistent, integrated and digitally enabled inspection model across all commodities, allowing the ministry to detect and prevent risk effectively, while reducing red tape, and streamlining processes for industry.

• As part of CSM, following three phases of comprehensive internal and external user research, the ministry launched a licensing portal that uses a lean, user-focused, digital approach to make it easier for those who require licences and certificates under OMAFA legislation to prepare and submit applications and payments to the ministry, significantly reducing regulatory burden in the licensing and registration space. All forms were digitized and published in the portal by June 2024, marking the project's completion.

Grow Ontario Strategy priority: Increase agri-food technology and adoption

Supporting the agri-food sector and the Grow Ontario Strategy through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance and other Initiatives

OMAFA committed more than $343 million over five years through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance agreement. The agreement continues to support the growth and competitiveness of Ontario’s agri-food sector, creating jobs and further solidifying the province’s position as a global leader in agri-food education, research and innovation. This agreement with the University of Guelph increased Ontario’s GDP by $1.4 billion and sustained more than 1,300 jobs.

In 2024, the ministry also invested:

• $7.2 million in 44 Ontario-led research and innovation projects that are helping farmers and agribusinesses become more competitive. The investment was made through the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance.
• $1.28 million in seven research projects to help farmers increase their long-term productivity and competitiveness. The funding through the Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario’s (ARIO) Innovative Breeding Research Program (IBRP) helps create new tailored plant varieties and livestock for the province’s domestic food supply and export markets.
• $3.5 million in the Ontario Agri-Food Research Initiative (OAFRI) to support the development and adoption of new technologies for farmers, food processors and agri-businesses that will enhance their competitiveness and growth. The additional intake, funded through Sustainable CAP, supports investments in the applied research, pilot and demonstration, and knowledge translation and transfer streams.
• $23.55 million for horticultural research, innovation and commercialization activities, and research infrastructure, through Sustainable CAP. The investment supports the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre (VRIC) in research activities to increase the competitiveness and profitability of horticulture in Ontario and Canada. It will also support the Centre’s work with ARIO to ensure there is up-to-date equipment and infrastructure in place to conduct industry focused research and innovation activities.
• $330,000 through Sustainable CAP to enhance the Superior Plant Upgrading and Distribution (SPUD) Unit in New Liskeard. The SPUD Unit supports farmers and the wider agri-food sector by offering testing for plant diseases and providing a stock of healthy plants to commercial growers across the province.
• $22.6 million through the Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative to expand production capacity and boost energy efficiency in the agri-food sector. The initiative, funded through Sustainable CAP, supports 319 farming and agri-food businesses to help them invest in innovative technology, equipment or processes that will expand production capacity or enhance efficiency.

Grow Ontario Strategy priority: Attract and grow Ontario’s agri-food talent

• In October 2024, the governments of Canada and Ontario launched the Labour Force Management Strategies Initiative to attract and retain Ontario agri-food workers. Funded through Sustainable CAP, the $4 million investment strengthens Ontario’s agri-food workforce by helping to fund job training and new recruitment marketing campaigns, introduce new worker supports such as ridesharing programs and language training and support the planning of on-site amenities and recreational facilities.
• In September 2024, funding was provided through Sustainable CAP to help minority groups start and build businesses in the agri-food sector. The Agricultural Workforce Equity and Diversity Initiative provides grants of up to $100,000 to support business ventures led by primary agricultural producers and food processors who are Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, 2SLGBTQI+ people, persons with disabilities, youth, women or members of French linguistic minority communities.
• OMAFA will continue to work with industry and other provincial and federal ministries to ensure that Ontario remains a destination of choice for international agri-food workers (IAWs).
  • In 2024, the governments of Canada and Ontario invested nearly $1.8 million over two years to provide IAWs in Ontario with better access to mental health supports in Spanish, Tagalog, French and English. Delivered by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Ontario Division, in close partnership with its Windsor-Essex and Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk regional branches, the International Agricultural Worker Wellness Program supports IAWs with managing stress, homesickness and isolation.
  • In September 2024, Canada and Ontario announced $1.5 million over four years for the IAW Welcoming Communities Initiative to provide translation supports, transportation services, and cultural and recreation activities.
  • In 2024, OMAFA dedicated resources to lead policy, programming, coordination and engagement with other governments and industry on challenges facing IAWs, such as health and safety, housing and other vulnerabilities.
  • The Farmer Wellness Initiative was expanded by $538,000 in funding through Sustainable CAP, with nearly $178,000 dedicated to supporting services in Spanish. Delivered by Agriculture Wellness Ontario, a suite of free programming managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division, the Farmer Wellness Initiative provides farmers, farm workers and their family members in Ontario with unlimited access to a free, 24/7 phone line that connects them to tailored mental health counselling.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) — Summary