NewsLine by Cole's Ag on April 17, 2026, 9:49am

Grain Growers of Canada welcomes Bill C-273 to support innovation and competitiveness in agriculture 

April 17, 2026 (Ottawa, Ont.) — Grain Growers of Canada welcomes the introduction of Bill C-273, the FARM Act, which would help drive innovation and competitiveness in Canadian agriculture through faster access to crop protection tools. 

Bill C-273 would require provisional approval within 90 days for products already approved in two trusted international jurisdictions, while maintaining Canada’s rigorous safety standards through a subsequent full review process. 

Improving the pace at which new products reach the market has long been a priority for the agriculture sector, which has consistently called for regulatory modernization to improve the timeliness, transparency and predictability of the agricultural innovation system. 

Bill C-273 would help advance that objective by enabling faster adoption of innovation and supporting competitiveness across the sector. 

Introduced by Conservative MP David Bexte, the bill builds on similar legislation previously brought forward by Liberal MP Kody Blois, reflecting support for agriculture across party lines and a shared recognition that Canada’s regulatory timelines need to improve. This alignment in Parliament presents a clear opportunity to move forward in a practical way that helps farmers in a rapidly changing environment. 

Grain Growers of Canada welcomes this consensus and emphasizes the opportunity to advance Bill C-273 without delay, in line with commitments to reduce regulatory burden in agriculture and support important innovation and producer competitiveness. 

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About Grain Growers of Canada (GGC): 
As the national voice for Canada’s grain farmers, Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) represents over 100,000 producers through our 15 national, provincial and regional grower groups. Our members steward 120 million acres of land to grow food for Canadians and for 160 countries around the world, creating $45 billion in export value annually. As the farmer-driven association for the grains sector, GGC champions federal policies that support the competitiveness and profitability of grain growers across Canada. 

For more information, please contact: 
Hana Sabah 
Senior Communications Manager 
Grain Growers of Canada 
514-834-8841 | hana@graingrowers.ca 

NewsLine by Cole's Ag on January 27, 2026, 7:00am

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:

  • Establish and lead a coalition of like-minded countries to defend science- and risk- based regulation and promote trade-facilitative approaches to crop protection standards, including improved international alignment on maximum residue levels (MRLs).
  • Fully utilize existing bilateral mechanisms, including those under the Canada–European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), to challenge innovation-related trade barriers and oppose the EU’s pesticide reciprocity approach.

“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 Canada’s economy.”

Read the White Paper (PDF)

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For more information, please contact:

Erin Gowriluk
President
Canada Grains Council
343-549-4767 | erin@canadagrainscouncil.ca

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