Development of an Agri-Tech Innovation Plan (A-TIP) for Commercialization of Innovation
HAL is once again working with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. In line with the 2003 Agricultural Policy Framework and its successor, Growing Forward, AAFC and OMAFRA have a growing commitment to foster the agri-technology industry. HAL is preparing an analysis and needs assessment of the Agri-Tech sector to help develop a Ministry-wide Agri-Tech Innovation Plan (A-TIP).
The Ontario government, for its part, has made a concerted policy effort to support innovation and commercialization in the agricultural technology sector on several fronts. The Ministry of Research and Innovation has developed a range of programs supporting directly and indirectly the development of the sector’s various components. These include commitments made to research infrastructure, commercialization (Ontario Centre of Excellence program), regional innovation networks (Ontario Commercialization Networks program), and financing (Ontario Venture Capital Fund). The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has also been instrumental in fostering this industry, mainly through its commitment to research at the University of Guelph and through its support of four organizations that are dedicated to building innovation and commercialization capacity in agri-technology.
These agri-tech innovation and commercialization organizations, or ATICOs, leverage federal commitments under Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada, which also seeks to support innovation capacity ‘beyond the farm gate’. Under the landmark 2003 Agricultural Policy Framework agreement, and its successor, Growing Forward, science and innovation has been a pillar for federal and provincial cooperation, guided in part by AAFC’s own science and innovation strategy and Ontario’s commitment to fostering an agri-technology industry.
HAL’s role is an analysis and needs assessment of the Agri-Tech sector to help develop a Ministry-wide Agri-Tech Innovation Plan (A-TIP) – a commercialization strategy for innovation services that will enhance program delivery for agri-tech clients across different levels of government and departments, as well as ATICOs.