AAFC Budget Cuts Put Sustainable Agriculture Research at Risk
On January 23, 2026 Agriculture & Argi-Food Canada (AAFC) announced budget cuts that will reduce their workforce by 12% (665 employees), close seven research farms across Canada, four of the research farms are on the Prairies (Indian Head, Scott, Portage la Prairie, Lacombe) and the Organic and Regenerative Research program at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre. These cuts threaten critical progress in organic, regenerative and sustainable agriculture, with far-reaching impacts for farmers and food production across the Prairies.
In response to the cuts, the PFSVN submitted the following statement to the Honourable Health MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada:
The Board of Directors of the Prairie Food System Vision Network (PFSVN) echoes the concern expressed by farmers, farm organization, and many in the agri-food industry regarding recently announced cuts to agricultural research. In particular, we contend that it is a false economy to reduce or eliminate research in sustainable agriculture programs, such as Organic and Regenerative Research Program led by Dr. Myriam Fernandez at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre, the long term agroecology research at the Indian Head Research Farm, established in 1887, and the Lacombe Research and Development Centre.
Organic and regenerative agriculture, including agroecological systems, are critical to addressing not only the sustainability of food systems but a range of environmental issues, from the protection of biodiversity to the mitigation of climate change.
For more than 19 years, research at the AAFC Swift Current Research and Development Centre has provided field trials and data that offers immense value to both organic producers and the broader agricultural community. The research addresses critical priorities, including diversified cropping systems to enhance sustainability, the impacts of tillage intensity on weed management, cover cropping and living mulches, pathogens and disease in organic field crops, intercropping systems, biocontrol of pests resulting from organic practices, greenhouse gas emissions in organic agriculture, evaluation of farmer-bred and heritage wheat lines under organic management, grasshopper control options, and more.
“While the program was dedicated to organic production systems,” comments from Will Oddie, President of farmer organization SaskOrganics, “much of the research was also highly relevant to low-input and regenerative producers. Closing a program focused on these production approaches at a time of growing interest and adoption is short-sighted and counterproductive. In addition to its research contributions, the program played a vital role in knowledge transfer. Regular organic and low-input field days and industry events created opportunities for producers to learn, ask questions, share experiences, and build networks across the sector.”
Research at the AAFC Indian Head Research Farm of particular relevance to the sustainability of food systems include:
Long-Term Agroecosystem Experiments: Studies dating back to 1958 focused on managing soil organic matter, wind erosion, the effects of no-till on crop yields, recently and intensive crop rotations.
Crop Management and Development: Evaluation of alternative crops such as quinoa and soybeans in Saskatchewan.
Sustainable Practices: Researching the impacts of reduced fallow frequencies, using legumes for green manure, and utilizing plant growth regulators.
Environmental Stewardship: Initiatives aimed at mitigating climate change impacts and enhancing biodiversity within the agricultural landscape.
Important research at three other Prairie research stations is also in jeopardy. Research at Lacombe is focused on integrated crop production systems, the reduction of environmental impacts of livestock, and honeybee health and management, bees being a critical resource for pollination. The Scott Research Farm’s Alternative Cropping System studies investigated organic rotations and the Portage La Prairie Research Farm conducted research on soil health, water quality, and special crops.
The Government of Canada made a commitment to address climate change and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Given that food and agriculture systems are responsible for one-third of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, transforming these systems is critical for achieving this commitment.
While most agricultural soils currently contain low levels of organic matter, enhancing management practices can significantly increase this capacity. An agroecological approach to farming turns soils from carbon sources into vital sinks, making it a critical component of climate change mitigation. Adopting climate-smart agriculture, such as improved soil management, agroecology, agroforestry, and regenerative systems can reduce emissions and increase resilience. Soil-based carbon sequestration using practices that have been researched and promoted by AAFC research institutions at Indian Head, Lacombe, and Swift Current have the potential to sequester substantial amounts of carbon if broadly applied. The benefits of increasing soil organic carbon extend beyond carbon storage, enhancing resilience to climate impacts such as flooding and drought, while boosting biodiversity.
Regenerative agriculture offers conventional farmers a pathway to reduce both costs and environmental harm. By incorporating cover crops and integrating livestock into cash crop production systems, farmers can reduce weed pressure and enhance soil quality. These practices decrease dependence on expensive synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, safeguard valuable topsoil, and protect soil against drought while reducing nutrient runoff that causes eutrophication of lakes and waterways. Regenerative practices create additional benefits through increased biodiversity. Enhancing crop rotations with cover crops and introducing hedgerows provides habitat for beneficial insects that naturally control pests through predation of harmful insects and consumption of weed seeds in topsoil, further reducing expensive chemical inputs. Many farmers find these regenerative approaches pay off through lower operating costs, improved long-term yields, and reduced environmental liability.
Launched in 2019 by the Government of Canada, the first ever Food Policy for Canada aims for Canadians to be able to access sufficient safe, nutritious, and culturally diverse food while seeking to support a food system that is resilient and innovative, sustains our environment, and supports our economy. The expressed objectives of the food policy include “sustainable food practices” aiming to “maintain the health of our natural resources so that we can continue to provide food for future generations. Greater efforts to develop and maintain sustainable food practices help make better use of natural resources, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and create efficiencies and financial savings across Canada's food systems.”
It is particularly discouraging then to see a federal government ostensibly committed to the mitigation of climate change and to ensuring sustainable food and agricultural systems cutting the very programs that help to make these goals possible.
We join with farmers, consumers, farm organizations, and industry to request that the federal government continue to fund the sustainable agriculture programs and projects currently funded by the AAFC and to expand these programs.
To download a copy of the statement click here.
Additional Response to the AAFC Cuts: