b'The Agricultural Paradox Digitization also carries new vulnerabili-If Coletto captures the psychological fracture,ties. Farms, flush with cash flow but often economist Craig Klemmer shines a light onlight on cyber protections, are increasingly the sector where it may matter most: agricul- attractive targets. With more than half of all ture. For him, the story of Canadian farminginternet traffic now generated by bots, the mirrors the story of the nationtrusted,risks are real.essential, yet increasingly under strain. Were not even close to pulling our The paradox, says Klemmer, princi- weight, Klemmer admits. Its not just about pal agricultural economist at Farm Creditresearch. Its about commercializationand Canada, is that we are both a global power- Canada is failing to close that gap.house and a laggard. For Coletto, this is where precarity and On one hand, agriculture contributes moreproductivity converge. In a country where than $140 billion to Canadas GDP and feedsconfidence in banks, telecoms, and even millions around the world. On the other, pro- government is in freefall, agriculture remains ductivity growththe bedrock of long-termone of the last institutions Canadians still competitivenesshas slowed dramatically.trust.In the 1990s, annual farm productivity gainsYou are one of the last institutions topped 2%. Today, they hover closer to 1%. LeftCanadians believe in, he says. They think unchecked, that slowdown could cost Canadianyou care. They see you being squeezed by the farms billions in lost growth over the nextsame forces squeezing them. And that gives David Coletto is CEO of Abacusdecade. you an edge no one else has.Data. Photo: Marc Zienkiewicz Thats not just statistical trivia, KlemmerThat trust is not infinite. Klemmer points warns. Thats money out of farmers pockets,out that agriculture has struggled to commu-food off Canadians tables, and competitive- nicate its economic and social value to urban ness lost in global markets. voters and policymakers. Too often, the sector is reactive, speaking only when threat-Innovation as Insurance ened by regulation or trade barriers. Whats Klemmer argues the only way forward isneeded, he argues, is a proactive narrativeinnovation. And the stakes couldnt be higher.one that positions farmers not just as stewards Modern plant science innovation alreadyof the land but as architects of growth and contributes over $14 billion annually to GDP,stability in a precarious age.supports nearly 40,000 jobs, and cushions consumers from runaway food costs. WithoutThe Narrowing Windowtodays seed technologies, he estimates, groceryBoth Coletto and Klemmer land on the same bills would be 25-65% higheran extraconclusion: precarity is not a passing storm. $3,700 to $7,100 annually for the averageClimate shocks, AI disruption, and geopolitical Canadian household. volatility are structural realities. The window This isnt just about farmers, he empha- for agriculture to claim its role as an anchor sizes. Its about urban voters, food security,institution is narrowing.and resilience in the face of global shocks. Klemmer sees three imperatives: sharper But here too, Canada is faltering.farm management, better optimization of Investment in agricultural R&D has beenscale, and faster technical progress. Too many declining as a share of farm revenue since thefarms, he argues, are over-capitalized and early 1990s. Countries like Israel, Australia,under-optimizedinvesting heavily in and the United States have increased theirs.equipment while neglecting strategy.Meanwhile, agri-tech investment south of theBut perhaps the most critical imperative is border outpaces Canadas by a factor of 23. belief. We must invest, Klemmer says, and Craig Klemmer is an agriculturalEven when innovations are available,to invest, we must believe the future is worth economist for Farm Credit Canada. Photo: Marc Zienkiewicz adoption can lag. Zero-till farming wasbuilding.pioneered in the 1950s, but it took decadesCanadas political landscape may continue before herbicide technology and culturalto seesaw. Global markets will keep convulsing. acceptance made it mainstream. ArtificialTrust in institutions may erode further. But in intelligence may follow the same trajectory:the middle of it all, agriculture has the chance to on some farms, AI-driven decision tools arebecome what Canadians crave most: certainty.already delivering productivity gains of upPeople still believe in farmers, Coletto to 5%. But scaling those advances across thesays. They still believe in food. They still industry will take timeand trust. believe in land. Thats your edge. 32 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADA NOVEMBER 2025'