Yes. Thank you very much.

Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and honourable members. My name is Greg Kolz. I am the vice-president of government affairs at CropLife Canada. Joining me today is Émilie Bergeron, the vice-president of chemistry. Thank you very much for inviting us to discuss the priorities of Canada's agriculture sector.

CropLife Canada is the national trade association representing the manufacturers, developers and distributors of pesticides and plant-breeding innovations. We advocate for a predictable, science-based regulatory environment for plant science innovations in Canada. Furthermore, we champion a regulatory environment that both protects human and environmental safety and encourages innovation and competitiveness.

In a recent report, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, or FAO, warns that global hunger and food insecurity are at critical levels. Hundreds of millions of people lack access to nutritious, safe and sufficient food amid world conflicts, climate change, supply chain disruptions and economic shocks, which have all contributed to high food inflation. That said, feeding Canadians and the world will require plant science innovations. Whether it's higher-yielding crops, varieties that are more resilient in the face of environmental stressors, or new crop protection tools, these are all innovations that will support Canadian farmers in their important quest to address food insecurity.

Using less land and fewer resources while achieving higher yields, which is enabled by these innovations, also makes food more affordable, reducing the average Canadian household's grocery bill by about $4,500 a year. This is why we are urging the Government of Canada to take bold action to enable the Canadian agriculture sector to help address the food security crisis, both domestically and abroad.

How can we unleash the full potential of Canada's ag sector and conquer food insecurity? Well, it begins by cutting red tape and creating a high-efficiency regulatory environment in Canada that will enable our agriculture sector to thrive. The OECD currently has Canada ranked 35th out of 38 member countries in terms of regulatory burden. This is unacceptable. This massive gap is a fundamental roadblock to agriculture innovation, sustainability and production.

In recent years, Canadian farmers have seen considerable delays in the introduction of agriculture technologies and access to safe and effective crop protection products due to a lack of predictability and timeliness in the domestic regulatory system. These barriers to innovation are hindering Canadian growers' productivity and competitiveness. Simply put, the Government of Canada must ensure that our growers have access to the tools and technologies they need, when they need them.

Let's focus specifically on Canada's pesticide management regulatory agency, the PMRA. Over the last several years, we've witnessed the PMRA being seized by a so-called transformation agenda—bureaucratic processes and initiatives that continue to add red tape to the regulatory process and dissuade investment and innovation in Canada.