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Canada and Germany to work together on agricultural research

World demand for food is growing and research and innovation will help Canadian farmers and food processors meet that demand. The Government of Canada is supporting science and innovation with key global partners to build the capacity necessary to take advantage of growth opportunities and create good, well-paying jobs.

As part of this effort, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, today 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.