Growing the future of food
Alberta is expanding its agricultural sector through innovation, technology and the development of new bio-based products
Alberta has long been an agricultural powerhouse. The development of earlier-maturing wheat varieties in the early 1900s helped establish crop farming in in the province — we’ve been innovating in this sector ever since. Building off its rich history, the agricultural industry is developing new technologies to increase production, improve efficiency and create high-quality, value-added products. Alberta is the home to global agribusinesses leading the transformation of sustainable food and environmental stewardship.
Alberta is a leading producer of canola, wheat, dry peas, barley, and cattle, and is growing its food processing capabilities. The province’s arable lands, abundance of sunshine and extensive irrigation network make it an ideal place to produce primary agricultural products. Global connectivity and business friendly policies open up tremendous opportunities for agriculture processing facilities to establish Alberta as their North America hub.
© Travel Alberta. Photo by Dan Schyk
Alberta Stories
Lovingly Made Ingredients
Alberta’s agricultural sector is foundational to the province’s economy — contributing $9.68 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020 and employing 69,800 Albertans. The province offers a great supply of high-quality primary products and forages and is the third largest exporter of agri-food products in Canada.
Alberta is a global agricultural leader across the supply chain. Many of the world’s largest agricultural companies have corporate offices located throughout the province.
Primary and value-added exports
Alberta produces and exports a significant amount of high-quality primary and processed agriculture products. The province’s crop sector is highly diversified, producing wheat, oats, barley, canola, pulses, and more. In 2020, agricultural exports totaled over $12.4 billion — with $5.8 billion in primary agricultural products and $6.7 billion in value-added products.
As Canada’s leading beef-producing province, Alberta is also a significant exporter of beef, as well as live cattle.
Alberta’s Share of Canadian Production for Selected Crops (2020)
In 2020, 68% of Canada’s beef was produced in Alberta, 28% of pulses and 39% of field peas
Firms operating in Alberta have preferred market access to 51 countries representing approximately 1.5 billion consumers with a combined GDP of $49.3 trillion USD. The province also boasts a reliable and efficient transportation system.
| Canada is the World’s | Alberta Produces (2020) | 2020 Alberta Exports |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Exporter of Canola Seed | 27.84% of Canada’s Canola (5.2 million tonnes) | $1.71 Billion |
| #3 Exporter of Wheat after Russia and the United States | 31.38% of Canada’s wheat (11 million tonnes) | $2.32 Billion |
| #1 Exporter of Dry Peas | 28.0% of Canada’s Pulses (Peas, Beans, Faba Beans, Chick Peas, Lentils at 2.3 Million Tonnes) | $214.16 Million |
| #5 Exporter of Barley | 49.19% of Canada’s Barley (5.3 Million Tonnes) | $241.13 Million |
| #4 Exporter of Live Bovine/Cattle after France, Australia, and Mexico | 69% of Canadian Fed Cattle Production (2.1 Million Head) | $688.75 Million |
A growing food processing industry
Alberta has seen rapid growth in its value-added food processing industry. The sub-sector increased by 6.71 per cent CAGR from 2011 to 2020 and was Alberta’s largest manufacturing sector with $15.5 billion in food manufacturing sales in 2020.
Alberta Primary & Value-Added Agriculture Exports (Billion CAD)
Alberta’s Top Agri-Food Markets (Million CAD)
Largest food manufacturing industry by sales in Western Canada with $15.5 B in 2020
Alberta’s food processors are active in a range of areas from meat products, grain and oilseed milling, snack foods, functional foods and natural health products, and beverages.
Access to competitively prices industrial facilities, a talented workforce, and connectivity to the North American market make Alberta ideal for food processing investment. The province also boasts research and development facilities, such as the Food Processing Development Centre (FPDC) and the Agri-value Processing Business Incubator, which support companies bringing new products to market.
Greenhouses
Alberta’s relatively warm climate, consistent sunlight, low-cost natural gas, availability of water and reasonably priced land makes it ideal for greenhouses.
As of 2019, there were 195 greenhouses in Alberta mostly concentrated in Red Deer (22%), Edmonton (20%) and Medicine Hat (18%). Alberta’s total greenhouse area is estimated to be 17.6 million square feet.
Natural Gas Rates for Farms Alberta 2019–2021
$2.11/GJ
Regulated Rate
$3.61/GJ
Fixed Rate
$3.27/kWh
Variable Rate
Robust research and innovation network
Alberta has over 22 research and innovation facilities, specializing in such areas as crops and cereals, poultry and swine research, agronomy, biomaterials, and food safety. The Canadian and provincial governments both offer significant tax incentives to conduct research and development.
The Food Processing Development Centre (FPDC) in Leduc includes the Agri-value Processing Business Incubator, a food product commercialization facility that is unique in Canada.
The sector is also supported by several academic institutions, conducting research, and offering programs in agriculture and agribusiness.
Supported by agri-tech
Farmers and ranchers are collaborating with Alberta’s tech to develop and implement innovative technologies to produce higher yields, while maintaining quality and sustainability. Olds College’s agricultural technology program is developing the skills for Alberta to lead this movement.
It’s estimated that Alberta’s agribusinesses will spend $684 million on digital transformation by 2024.
An environmental leader
Agriculture greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been relatively stable for 20 years — representing 8.4% of Canada’s total emissions. In that time, production has increased significantly, resulting in a decrease of GHG emission intensity by half.
Alberta’s bio-industrial sector is moving the province forward in the green economy with advancements in bio-based fuels, energy, materials, and natural health products. Alberta’s ranchers are also continuously working to lower the environmental footprint of their cattle herds.
Areas of Focus
Primary production
- Canola seed
- Pulses (peas, beans, faba beans, chickpeas, and lentils)
- Barley
- Live cattle
The province’s arable lands, abundance of sunshine and extensive irrigation network make it ideal for place to produce primary agricultural products.
Agri-food processing
- Canola and oilseed milling
- Vegetable processing
- Meat and specialty meat manufacturing
- Snack foods and functional foods
- Natural health products and beverages
- Pulse processing
- Prepared animal feeds
- Malt
Alberta’s food processing sector has seen rapid growth and was the province’s largest manufacturing sector with $15.5 billion in food manufacturing sales in 2020.
Bio-industrial products
- Bio-fuels and energy
- Bio-materials
- Natural health products
- Bio-based chemicals
Alberta is growing its expertise in bio-industrial products. The province features several innovation centres that support companies developing new bio-based products.
Agri-tech
- Advanced monitoring
- Big data
- IoT-based sensor networks
- Satellite photography and sensors
- Computer vision and spectral analytics
- Hydroponics
Alberta’s innovators collaborate with farmers to increase yields, find efficiencies, and promote sustainability through increased connectivity and data.
Environmental, social and governance
Alberta is investing millions into growing sustainable food for communities around the world, while offsetting 2.5 million tonnes of emissions from the agriculture and agri-food sectors.
GHG emissions reduction
Alberta’s agricultural sector has decreased GHG emission intensity by half in the past 20 years.
Sustainable beef
Canadian beef has one of the lowest GHG footprints, nearly 50% lower than the world average.
Better soil conservation
Soil conservation practices has allowed soils to sequester carbon for 20 years — offsetting nearly 10% of the sector’s emissions.
Decreased water usage
17% reduction in water usage by Canadian beef producers from the 1980s to the 2010s.
Project Clean Cow
Sustainable approach to cutting agricultural methane emissions by 30%.
Emissions Reduction Alberta
Investing $33 million in tech innovations to reduce emissions by up to 2.7 million tonnes.
Talent
Alberta is home to a highly educated workforce and several post-secondary institutions that specialize in agriculture, science, and engineering.
Highly educated workforce
Alberta has one of the most educated workforces among OECD countries with half of its population aged 25-64 having attained a post-secondary education.
Significant STEM talent
Alberta’s post-secondary institutions had 3,525 science and technology, 4,225 engineering and engineering tech, and 1,525 math and computer science grads in 2020.
Robust workforce
The agricultural and agri-food sector employs 69,800 Albertans.
Educational programs
Alberta has several agriculture- and agribusiness-related programs at Olds College, Portage College, University of Lethbridge, Lakeland College, University of Alberta and University of Calgary.
Infrastructure
Alberta boasts a well-connected transportation system and approximately 67.9% of the irrigated farmland in Canada.
Well irrigated
Alberta has the largest irrigated area in Canada with nearly 680,000 hectares of irrigated land.
Investing in more irrigation
$815 million investment to add another 200,000 acres of irrigated land.
Affordable natural gas
Alberta’s natural gas infrastructure provides affordable heat and power to rural farms and greenhouses.
Well connected
KPMG City Competitive Index ranks Edmonton and Calgary among the top 10 mid-size cities for transportation costs.
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Canola Field near Red Deer, Alberta.
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