UFA is deeply concerned by the federal government's decision to close the Lacombe Research and Development Centre (LRDC), a longstanding and highly specialized pillar of agricultural research and innovation in Western Canada. This decision, announced as part of broader departmental reductions within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), includes the wind-down of multiple research sites and the elimination of more than 665 AAFC positions, representing a significant contraction of Canada's agricultural research capacity.
For decades, the Lacombe Research and Development Centre has played a critical role in advancing research in livestock production, forage systems, carcass quality and sustainable agricultural practices. The Centre has provided region-specific, prairie-adapted expertise that is not easily replicated elsewhere within the federal research system.
The LRDC's work has directly supported producer productivity, environmental stewardship, risk management and innovation across Alberta and the broader Prairie region. Its research outputs have informed on-farm decision-making, strengthened supply chains and enhanced Canada's reputation as a leader in science-based agriculture.
The closure of the Lacombe Centre carries significant long-term consequences for both the agricultural research ecosystem and primary producers who rely on practical, regionally relevant science.
These impacts include:
- A reduction in prairie-focused research insights critical to livestock and forage sectors;
- The weakening of Canada's national agricultural research network through the loss of specialized expertise and infrastructure;
- Diminished capacity to respond to emerging challenges such as climate variability, sustainability expectations, market uncertainty, and global competitiveness pressures; and
- Reduced support for producers navigating an increasingly complex production and regulatory environment.
At a time when farmers and ranchers are facing intensifying production pressures, market volatility and weather-driven challenges, the loss of applied, publicly funded research capacity represents a serious strategic risk to Western Canadian agriculture. While UFA recognizes the government's responsibility to exercise fiscal prudence, the scope and nature of these reductions risk undermining Canada's position as a leader in sustainable, innovation-driven agriculture. Western Canada, home to some of the country's most productive and export-oriented agricultural regions, depends on robust public research infrastructure to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving global marketplace. Decisions affecting foundational research capacity should reflect not only short-term budget considerations but also long-term economic, environmental and food security outcomes.
Given the significance of the potential impacts, UFA strongly urges the federal government to:
- Reconsider the scope and timing of the Lacombe Research and Development Centre closure, with particular attention to research programs and expertise that cannot be easily transferred, replicated, or replaced elsewhere.
- Engage directly with impacted producer groups, research partners, and provincial stakeholders to explore transitional supports and alternative pathways that preserve critical research functions and knowledge.
- Provide clear and transparent guidance on how AAFC intends to maintain national capacity in livestock, forage, and prairie-adapted research following the closure, including how regional research gaps will be addressed.
Publicly funded agricultural research is a strategic investment in Canada's economic resilience, food security and global competitiveness. The loss of the Lacombe Research and Development Centre would represent a permanent reduction in the applied research capacity available to Western Canadian producers. UFA believes there is an opportunity for further dialogue and thoughtful reconsideration to ensure that Canada's agricultural research system remains strong, regionally relevant and responsive to the needs of producers and rural communities.
