RBC report calls for bold action to boost Canada’s agri-food exports

Canada’s agriculture sector has the potential to lead a new era of trade diversification, but only if it moves quickly, according to a new RBC Thought Leadership report.

The report, Food First: How Agriculture Can Lead a New Era for Canadian Exports, outlines a strategy to increase Canada’s global market share by 30 per cent and generate $44 billion in new agri-food exports by 2035.

“This research highlights a critical moment for Canada’s agri-food sector,” said Lisa Ashton, agriculture policy lead at RBC Thought Leadership and the report’s author. “While Canada’s agricultural exports have quadrupled in value since 2000, its global market share has shrunk by 12 per cent as competitors like Brazil and Australia expand into high-growth regions.”

The report, developed in collaboration with the BCG Centre for Canada’s Future, provides a roadmap for expanding trade beyond North America, particularly in Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

“Canada has long been one of the world’s leading food producers,” said John Stackhouse, senior vice-president, Office of the CEO at RBC. “We have an opportunity to turn agriculture into a driving force for trade diversification.”

The report highlights key recommendations, including investing in precision farming technology, improving rural digital access, expanding agri-food processing clusters and modernizing export infrastructure.

It is part of RBC’s broader efforts through its Trade Hub platform to strengthen Canada’s global trade position.