It’s not just an economic powerhouse; it’s essential to our national security, prosperity and global reputation. It employs one in nine people and contributes more than $122 billion to the Canadian economy. Our food and beverage manufacturing sector is the country’s largest manufacturing sector. The fruits of our labour also reflect decades of strong collaboration with our neighbour to the south — the United States. This partnership, built on trust and mutual benefit, has thrived under free trade agreements, cultivating a shared vision for economic prosperity. But now we stand at a crossroads. Escalating trade tensions are putting pressure on our food system, threatening stability and more than $100 billion in bilateral agriculture trade. The stakes couldn’t be higher and the impact could echo through every corner of our food system. Canada has never been one to wait for solutions — we create them. Rather than standing still, we drive progress. We draw inspiration from our own successes as innovators. Ours is a legacy of adaptation and progress. Farmers harness cutting-edge technology, processors and manufacturers lead in sustainability and packaging, and transporters optimize logistics for efficiency and reliability.