ID 70575426 © Bluetoes67 Dreamstime.com

By Alice McFarlane

New Growth Plan

New Growth Plan will focus on agriculture

Nov 14, 2019 | 3:47 PM

Agriculture is an integral part of the province’s New Growth plan announced by Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. The goal is to expand agri-food exports to $20 billion by 2030.

Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan president Todd Lewis said the targets are ambitious and the trade and investment offices in Japan, Singapore and India are needed.

“The last time we had a set of targets like this agriculture made those targets and we did expand our exports. Production is always going up in the province with the investments farmers are making in agronomy or new varieties so we’ve had growth in the sector,” Lewis said. “It’s great to grow more but if we can’t trade it somewhere it doesn’t do us much good. The three offices announced are a good start at expanding our trade. I’m hoping to continue with the partners we have and expand trade with others.”

The Western Canadian Wheat Growers (WCWG) says the new trade offices will help to boost agriculture markets.

President Gunter Jochum said it’s encouraging to see the Saskatchewan Government is taking international trade seriously by opening offices in key regions.

MLAs clash over foreign ownership of Saskatchewan farmland

Nov 10, 2025

Outstanding community members

'We all loved him': respected Prince Albert broadcaster passes away

Oct 09, 2025

Nearing the end of harvest

Meals in the field and hats in combines: a look into end of harvest traditions

Oct 09, 2025

“Numerous countries around the world have been limiting access to our grain, oilseeds and pulse markets and part of the solution is to have boots on the ground to build relationships and solve little problems before they become big ones,” he said.

There has been a growing trend of protectionism around the world in many commodity markets based on local growing capacity, misinformation and country of origin labelling.

WCWG Saskatchewan Director Daryl Fransoo said working with foreign officials in a regional office improves the opportunities to resolve issues before they occur.

“I’m pleased that the Saskatchewan Government has taken this proactive step to work directly with our current and potential trade partners in an effort to support Saskatchewan agriculture,” Fransoo said.

The province also introduced two new SaskFirst New Growth Tax Incentives. The first will support the application of emerging digital technologies to attract agricultural companies while another incentive will encourage investment in Saskatchewan’s chemical fertilizer sector.

–

alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF