Modernizing Canada’s regulatory sector through collaboration and expert dialogue

With the demand for diverse sources of high-quality, sustainable protein rising around the globe, Canada is in a prime position to become a leading supplier of the ingredients and food consumers are looking for. Our food and agriculture sector can only supply this demand, however, with the proper supports in place.

One of the biggest challenges faced by the country’s ingredient and food processors is Canada’s food regulatory system. Highly regarded for their prioritization of health and safety standards, Canada’s food regulations are also considered bottlenecks for innovation, and ripe for regulatory modernization opportunity.

“Food landscapes are changing, including in Canada. A lot of investment around the world is being made into food innovation to deliver on health and sustainability outcomes, and obviously Canada's investing a lot in innovation across the board that has touch points along the food system,” Protein Industries Canada Director of the Centre for Regulatory Research and Innovation (CRRI) Chris Marinangeli said. “But increasingly, Canada's regulatory system is seen as a bottleneck to facilitating the commercialization of this innovation and getting this innovation in front of Canadians.”

Through its work under the CRRI, Protein Industries Canada makes research-based regulatory modernization a priority. It works with partners across the food and agriculture sector to assess regulations and policies, ensuring they’re informed by objective and responsible analysis of the challenges, opportunities and risks associated with current or proposed regulatory and policy amendments.

A current example is the upcoming Feb. 4 workshop put on in partnership with the Canadian Nutrition Society, entitled “Unlocking Canada’s Food Innovation Potential through Regulatory Modernization”. Focused on sharing and gathering expert dialogue and case studies, the workshop brings together sector representation to build consensus on key principles, develop actionable strategies, and establish a foundation for continued collaboration to position Canada as a global leader in modern food safety assessments and regulatory practices.

“Getting a sense as to how our regulatory environment might be impeding innovation, I think that's the most important outcome, because now we can start thinking about solutions,” Marinangeli said. “[Canada is] touted for having the safest food system in the world … the idea of this [workshop] is, are there efficiencies and things that we can do differently without sacrificing health and safety? Are there new tools or practices available that we haven't thought of that could create efficiencies? And give Canada a stronger value proposition for access to best innovation in the world?”

Marinangeli stressed that the agenda for the workshop, and the work of the CRRI as a whole, is coming together because of collaboration across the sector. The planning committee for the workshop includes not only Protein Industries Canada and the Canadian Nutrition Society, but also organizations such as Croplife Canada, and the NSERC Program for Food Safety Nutrition and Regulatory Affairs (University of Toronto), with additional input from, the University of British Columbia, the University of Alberta, the University of Newfoundland, McGill University, Food Health and Consumer Products of Canada, and the University of Ottawa. Importantly, others will be included as presenters, including the Government of Canada.

“I think the importance here is that it might be industry driving the funding of this workshop, but having a well renowned and objective partner in the Canadian Nutrition Society, the Government of Canada is also actively participating in this workshop, and various ministries and departments from the Government of Canada that have touch points within our food system are going to be there discussing their work, their initiatives, their processes, so we can have a fulsome and … collaborative discussion that has concrete outcomes,” Marinangeli said.

The “Unlocking Canada’s Food Innovation Potential through Regulatory Modernization” workshop is an invite-only event. For more information about the CRRI, please visit the CRRI homepage below.