Although the weather has been challenging at times, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Oneil Carlier says the future for the industry looks bright.
He made that statement during a speech at the windup breakfast of the Agricultural Services Board tour of Mountain View and Red Deer counties Friday (July 14) at the Alumni Centre.
"Sociologists are telling us that there's going to be two billion more people on this planet by the year 2050 and I think we have a great opportunity here," Carlier said.
"We always have ups and downs. Mother Nature's doing a few things with us yet again this year; some areas are (in a) drought, some areas are still actually too wet.
"But other than that, agriculture is only going up. Obviously it has to; we're having all these more people on this planet.
"So we have a real opportunity to take advantage of that and I would suggest too that perhaps even a responsibility that the people on this planet don't go hungry," he added.
Carlier noted that while attending the Stampede earlier that week, he met about 500 people from around the world interested in investing in Alberta, including the agriculture sector.
He was especially impressed with one couple from China and the possibilities they pose for industry.
"They were a husband and wife business team. They currently own 700 restaurants in China. They're opening up a new restaurant every week-and-a-half," Carlier said.
It's his understanding they were looking for sources of beef.
"Now our beef, as we all know, is a premium product, and the world craves and likes our products, including beef," he said. "They were looking to JBS (Food Canada) for our Alberta beef to be able to sell it in China. So I think that's great news."
Carlier said he also met a man from Denver, Colo. who he described as running one of the largest cheese producers in the world. He vowed to meet with him again with the goal of getting him to invest in Alberta.
"It helps all of us, helps agriculture. It obviously creates jobs as well. I think that's important as we continue to struggle with this very tough economy," he said.
Carlier also praised the federal government for its announcement that the Internet needs to be treated like a utility because it's vital for rural businesses as well as those in cities. He said the provincial government is working to make that happen too, via the SuperNet.
"Sociologists are telling us that there's going to be 2 billion more people on this planet by the year 2050 and I think we have a great opportunity here."ONEIL CARLIERAGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY MINISTER
