Agriculture
Canada has a well-established agriculture and agri-food industry with long-standing success in the global marketplace. Canada prides itself on its systems and policies that ensure world-class production standards. The industry's best practices and well-known reputation for innovative products and high-quality food have consistently positioned it as a cornerstone of the country's economy and a driving force in international trade.
While the relative contribution of Canadian agriculture to the overall economy has been declining, the absolute size of the sector has continued to grow. The agriculture and agri-food system contributed $87.9 billion (constant 1997 dollars) or 8% to the Canadian economy and employed 2.1 million Canadians in 2006. The importance of the sector varies across the provinces, with food processing being more important in Central and Eastern Canada, and primary agriculture more important in the Prairies. In 2009, total sector export sales reached $35.2 billion, 40.5% of which were consumer-oriented products