In this episode of The Future Herd, Jesse Hirsh speaks with Doug Reddick, Director of the Research and Innovation Branch at Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, about the future of agri-food research in Canada.

Doug offers a rare inside view of how agricultural research is funded, governed, and sustained—and where the system is breaking down. He explains why long-term research momentum matters, how short funding cycles undermine innovation, and why climate change, pests, and trade volatility demand a more coordinated national response.

At the heart of the conversation is a powerful proposal: Canada needs a shared map of its agri-food research and innovation ecosystem. Without visibility into who is researching what, where investments are being made, and where gaps exist, the sector is flying blind. Doug argues that a transparent, system-wide “game board” could align science, innovation, and commercialization, reduce duplication, and strengthen food system resilience.

This episode explores research as risk management, the limits of data sharing, the commercialization bottleneck, and the leadership challenge facing Canada’s food system—offering a practical vision for coordination rather than fragmentation.

Topics covered include:

1. Why agricultural research requires long-term commitment
2. How funding cycles disrupt innovation
3. Climate, pest, and biosecurity risks
4. Data sharing and competitive secrecy
5. Commercialization gaps in agri-food
6. The case for a national research coordination map
7. What leadership looks like in a fragmented system

A policy brief summarizing Doug’s proposal is available as a supplementary document.