Applied research in agriculture has long been a cornerstone of progress on Canadian farms. But with government funding cuts and a shifting industry landscape, the sector is facing significant challenges. Ken Coles, executive director of Farming Smarter, has spent nearly two decades working in applied research, and he’s seeing firsthand how these changes are affecting innovation on the farm.
“There’s been a huge reduction in efforts through both the provincial and federal governments,” says Coles. “We’ve had layers upon layers of cutbacks, and I think we’ve reached a point where we have a human resource issue when it comes to applied research that’s directly connected to the farm.”
Agriculture operates on a long timeline—research, extension, and plant breeding take years, sometimes decades, to show results. Yet, government funding decisions often focus on short-term returns, leading to unpredictable cycles of investment and withdrawal. Coles has witnessed this shift over the years, and he believes Canada is now paying the price.
“When you make cuts, you don’t see the effects right away, but they’re there,” he explains. “I think we’re starting to really recognize that we’re falling behind. I’ve traveled the world looking at innovation systems in different countries, and when I come back, I see how important good agricultural policy is. The problem is, policy isn’t exciting—it’s not what farmers want to spend time on.”
Historically, farmers have been independent operators, focused on their own operations rather than advocacy. “Only those who are really good at being independent have survived on the farm, and that’s not the personality type to get up and voice opinions too much,” Coles says. “Now, we’re starting to pay the price for that.”
The Limits of Industry Investment
With government stepping back, the expectation has been that private industry will fill the gap. But according to Coles, that approach has its limitations.
“Industry will only pick up what they can profit from,” he says. “That leaves out things like environmental research and other areas that matter to farmers but don’t have an immediate financial return.”
The province of Alberta, for example, eliminated its provincial agriculture research programs about four years ago, shifting some resources to post-secondary institutions. But those institutions are now struggling to keep up.
“The piece of the pie for ag funding is just too small,” Coles says. “It’s becoming more competitive, collaboration is challenged, and quite frankly, I think we’re falling behind.”
The Rise of Contract Research—A Solution or a Stopgap?
One response to the funding crunch has been the rise of contract-based applied research, where third-party organizations conduct studies on behalf of industry or government. Farming Smarter, as a nonprofit, engages in this kind of research, but Coles sees both benefits and risks in the model.
“Having third-party data is always a good thing,” he says. “But moving everything to field-scale trials and contract research doesn’t always generate the most accurate data.”
Another issue is that many of the most heavily funded agricultural innovations—big data, AI, genomics—don’t always translate into practical, on-farm improvements.
“You hear about all these innovations in agriculture, and there’s amazing stuff happening,” Coles says. “But to me, innovation isn’t innovation until it adds value and is actually being adopted on the farm. There’s a whole system that needs to function to make sure everybody sees a return on investment.”
Coles believes that applied research needs a stronger voice in Canada.
“We’ve got to push for better policy and more stable funding,” he says. “It’s not just about keeping up—it’s about making sure that farmers have access to the research and innovation they need to be competitive.”
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