The LineUp
The LineUp content hub features the latest releases and articles as they are distributed by Newsline, and it serves as a central location for the agriculture sector and media professionals to stay informed and up to date.
Grain sector warns of information gaps in AAFC research reductions, calls for immediate program impact disclosure
Feb. 6, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.)—Grain Growers of Canada is calling on the federal government to provide clarity on the impacts of recent staffing reductions and announced closures or consolidations of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research facilities, stating that downstream consequences cannot be assessed without clear, program-level information. “Transparency is essential when decisions affect the foundation of Canada’s agricultural research system,” said Scott Hepworth, chair of Grain Growers of Canada and Saskatchewan grain farmer. “Without clear disclosure of what research capacity is being reduced or eliminated, the sector cannot understand the long-term risks to production and competitiveness,” he added. “It must be clear what capacity is being lost, where, and with what consequences.” Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has cited personnel confidentiality in limiting details on the announced changes. Grain Growers of Canada emphasized that while personnel confidentiality must be respected, it does not, and should not, prevent disclosure of which programs and research capacities are being impacted. “Personnel confidentiality is not a barrier to clarity on program impacts,” Hepworth said. “Clarity of affected programs, facilities, and research capacity is both possible and necessary.” The scale and pace of the announced reductions are raising serious concerns across the grain sector about long-term …
Canadian Pork Council and Swine Innovation Porc joint statement on AAFC research facility reductions
Feb. 6, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) – The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) and Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) are disappointed by recent federal decisions affecting Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) research facilities and scientific capacity, including centres in Guelph, Quebec City, Lacombe, and the AAFC Nappan Research Farm in Nova Scotia. Yes, fiscal restraint is a reality, but reducing federal livestock research capacity represents a cut to critical investments and would have long-term risks to producers, the agri-food system, and Canada’s science-based decision-making credibility and food security. The Canadian Pork Council represents more than 7,000 producers. Together, they contribute more than $8 billion to the Canadian economy, with pork exports exceeding $5 billion. Investments from the industry and government in research and innovation sustain animal health, disease preparedness, antimicrobial stewardship, environmental performance, and productivity. Swine Innovation Porc coordinates national, producer-driven research investments, that rely on federal facilities to deliver public- good outcomes. These outcomes require independent expertise, long-term infrastructure, and national coordination are required. Several Swine Innovation Porc supported projects have been conducted at, or are currently led from, AAFC facilities facing closure or funding reductions. One example is the ongoing Swine Cluster 4 pork quality project led by AAFC Lacombe. The …
Canada Grains Council calls for strong action to address innovation-related trade barriers facing Canadian grain exports to the EU
Jan. 27, 2026 (Ottawa, ON) — The Canada Grains Council (CGC) has released a new white paper calling for stronger Canadian leadership to address emerging innovation-related trade barriers in the European Union (EU) that threaten the competitiveness of Canada’s grain exports. The paper examines how increasing regulatory divergence—particularly in the EU—is creating uncertainty for Canadian exporters and limiting agriculture’s ability to support Canada’s trade diversification and economic growth objectives. “As Canada looks to diversify trade and strengthen economic resilience, agriculture must be part of the solution,” said Erin Gowriluk, President of the Canada Grains Council. “Science-based, risk-based regulation is essential to maintaining market access and ensuring Canadian farmers can continue to innovate.” The white paper warns that the EU’s hazard-based regulation and move towards pesticide reciprocity measures could restrict Canadian exports produced using crop protection tools approved as safe by Canadian regulators, setting a trade restrictive precedent that could spread to other key markets for Canadian grain. To address these risks, the white paper outlines two key recommendations for the Government of Canada: “Canada has an opportunity to lead globally on science-based trade,” Gowriluk said. “By working with trusted partners, we can protect export markets, support innovation and strengthen agriculture’s contribution to …
Swine Innovation Porc to Host Webinar Examining the Impact of Pork Research in Canada
Jan. 21, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) – Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) will host a national webinar on February 18 at 11:00 a.m. ET to present and discuss the findings of its latest Impact Assessment, which evaluates the economic, innovation, and sector-wide impacts of pork research investment in Canada. Titled From Research to Results: Measuring the Impact of Pork Research in Canada, the webinar will feature the report’s authors — Stuart J. Smyth, Peter W.B. Phillips, and David Castle — who will share key insights from their analysis and explore what the findings mean for producers, industry leaders, and policymakers navigating today’s challenging operating environment. The Impact Assessment examines how research investments have supported productivity, competitiveness, and long-term resilience across the Canadian pork value chain, providing evidence to inform future research priorities and funding decisions. “Producers are facing unprecedented pressures, and understanding the real value of research has never been more important,” said Daniel Ramage, General Manager of Swine Innovation Porc. “This assessment provides clear, data-driven evidence of how research investments translate into tangible outcomes for the pork sector, and this webinar is an opportunity to share those insights directly with industry stakeholders.” The webinar will explore the measurable returns generated by …
Canada’s Agri-Food Exporters Welcome Pragmatic Engagement with China
Jan. 19, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) – The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance welcomes renewed, pragmatic engagement with China that marks an important first step toward restoring stability and predictability in the bilateral trading relationship despite remaining market access challenges. Canadian agri-food exporters have faced prolonged uncertainty in recent years as market access barriers and sudden trade disruptions have limited their ability to serve customers in one of the world’s largest agricultural markets. Against that backdrop, renewed dialogue, reduced tariffs and progress on unresolved issues is a positive development for the sector. “The Prime Minister has shown leadership that creates new opportunity for the Canadian agri-food industry” said Greg Northey, President of CAFTA. “We have long called on the Canadian government to engage with China to support our ability to export to China without trade barriers – last week’s developments are a breath of fresh air.” Stable and predictable access to international markets is essential for Canada’s export-oriented agri-food sector. Exporters rely on clear, rules-based trade frameworks to make long-term investment, production, and supply chain decisions that support jobs and economic activity across the country. “The potential for more Canada-China agri-food trade is vast as Canada produces the products that Chinese consumers …
Grain Growers of Canada Statement on Canada–China Trade Developments
OTTAWA, Jan. 16, 2026 – Grain Growers of Canada welcomes renewed engagement between Canada and China, including Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Beijing and today’s announcement of preliminary steps to de-escalate recent trade tensions. For Canada’s grain farmers, restoring predictability and access to key export markets matters. China is Canada’s second-largest grain market, and prolonged trade disruptions have had real consequences on farm revenues, cash flow, and confidence. Any progress that lowers barriers for Canadian agricultural products, including canola and pulses, is a positive step for farmers who depend on stable, rules-based trade. Grain Growers of Canada has consistently called for pragmatic engagement with both the United States and China to protect tariff-free access and prevent farmers from becoming collateral damage in broader geopolitical disputes. Over 70 percent of the grain grown in Canada is exported, and there are simply no alternatives that can replace markets of this scale. At the same time, renewed engagement must be grounded in predictability and follow-through. Canadian farmers need assurance that market access will be durable, transparent, and insulated as much as possible from future political escalation. Ongoing issues around trade enforcement, regulatory certainty, and the treatment of Canadian exports will require continued, …
Grain Farmers of Ontario Joins Grain Growers of Canada, Strengthening National Advocacy
Jan. 8, 2026 (Ottawa & Guelph, Ont.) — Canada’s grain sector is strengthening its national advocacy voice as Grain Farmers of Ontario formally joins Grain Growers of Canada, with federal decisions on trade, transportation, research, and infrastructure taking centre stage. Grain Growers of Canada represents grain farmers through its national, provincial, and regional member organizations, bringing a unified national voice to federal discussions on behalf of grain producers across the country. For nearly 25 years, the organization has advocated for the grain sector’s competitiveness and long-term viability, advancing policy grounded in on-farm realities for a sector generating $45 billion in annual exports. “For decades, grain farmers have been dealing with the fallout of long-standing issues that have been left unresolved,” said Scott Hepworth, chair, Grain Growers of Canada. “Global market instability is exposing cracks across the system, and Grain Farmers of Ontario joining Grain Growers of Canada reflects just how broad these pressures are and why a unified national voice, representing every major grain-producing region, is critical now.” Ontario is one of Canada’s largest grain-producing provinces and a critical contributor to the country’s export economy. Grain Farmers of Ontario joins Grain Growers of Canada alongside its 14 other grain grower …
Swine Innovation Porc announces first projects under national “Advancing Swine Research” initiative
Jan. 6, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) – Swine Innovation Porc (SIP) is pleased to announce four research projects under its Advancing Swine Research Call for Proposals, a national initiative designed to strengthen the resiliency, sustainability, and competitiveness of Canada’s pork sector. Supported by the Pork Promotion and Research Agency (PPRA), the projects announced today represent the first set of approved investments under a highly competitive, industry-guided research call. Additional approved projects will be announced as partner co-funding decisions are finalized. For the four projects announced today, SIP will invest up to $488,347, mobilizing up to $1.18 million in total project funding to advance innovation across priority areas including housing systems, animal health, energy efficiency, and product quality. “SIP is proud to lead this national research effort that channels research investments into meaningful, targeted impact for producers and processors,” said Mark Ferguson, Chair of SIP. “This call delivered exceptional proposals from across Canada, and the projects we are advancing will help producers meet today’s challenges while positioning the sector for long-term success.” Projects were selected through a rigorous review process informed by industry input and scientific expertise, ensuring research outcomes are relevant, impactful, and positioned to deliver value back to producers and …
