Presentation-Competitiveness %k Force

Bill MacKenzie

Market Developmenl Branch, New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Fredericton, New Brunswick

I was asked to present the work of the Agri-Food Competitiveness Task Force to set the scene for the symposium on Competitiveness. The Task Force was estab- lished to identify impediments to becoming more competitive and to make recom- mendations about how to achieve competitiveness. The members were chosen to represent diverse regional and commodity interests.

A great deal of discussion went into arriving at the following working definition of competitiveness, "competitiveness is the sustained ability to profitably gain and maintain market share in domestic and/or foreign markets". A long list of factors affecting competitiveness was analyzed by six working groups:

1. Inputs 2. Technology and Human Resources 3. Market Development 4. Macro Policy 5. Sector Specific Policy 6. Linkages (or Strategic Alliances)

Each group prepared its own report including conclusions and recommenda- tions. These reports were condensed into one 19 page Report to Ministers that was presented to them a year ago. The report received extensive discussion. They noted the need to better balance the interests of all parties in the food industry and market place. As a result, future appointments to the National Farm Products Marketing Council will strike a better balance of equity between producers and processors. The Ministers also agreed to:

the need to develop a fast track mechanism to resolve regulatory bottlenecks; undertake a human resource audit of the agri-food industry; review legislation to ensure that it supports collaborative relationships in the

establish an effective food research and technology transfer network; *develop a mechanism to speed the removal of technical barriers to

inter-provincial trade.

The final recommendations of the Task Force was to establish an industry-led body on agri-food competitiveness. On June 4, 1991, Agriculture Minister Bill McKnight launched the Agri-food Competitiveness Council. The Council will be responsible for the development of action plans to implement the task force's recommendations.

agri-food industry;

Can. J. Agric. Econ. 39 (1991) 725-726 725

726 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS

The Chairman of the Agri-food Competitiveness Council is Larry Martin, who has chaired the Task Force. He will work with a group of 16 directors. A larger general body that will represent the diverse regional and commodity interests will be named in the near future.

Copies of the Report to Ministers can be obtained from Charlie Milne at the Agri-food Competitiveness Council’s offices at (5 19) 837-5849.