A Look Back at Advocacy Days 2026

By: Amanda Hardman, Policy Coordinator, Team Alberta Crops

A Look Back at Advocacy Days 2026 Team Alberta Crops (TAC) hosts Advocacy Days annually, providing the opportunity for producers to meet directly with government decision‑makers. This year’s meetings and reception were held during the spring session at the Alberta Legislature from March 31 to April 1, 2026.

The two‑day event brought together directors and staff from seven agricultural organizations, engaged seven ministries, welcomed over 80 reception attendees, and met with 45 of Alberta’s elected officials and civil servants to discuss the top issues facing Alberta’s crop and beekeeping industries.

“As a producer, the Team Alberta Crops Advocacy Days are a chance to speak with decision‑makers about how their policies are affecting operations and outcomes on my farm,” said Alison Davie, Potato Growers of Alberta Chair. “There is tremendous value in being given the opportunity to share our story.”

Team Alberta Crops’ four advocacy pillars are:

• Strengthen Market Opportunities: Reliable access to stable and dependable markets is important to safeguard the livelihoods of Alberta producers.
• Invest in Agricultural Innovation: Stable investment in agricultural research and innovation is critical to resilient production and domestic food security.
• Streamline Regulation to Drive Competitiveness: Transparency, consultation and accountability from all levels of government are essential to prevent regulatory decisions from undermining the ability of producers to operate and the competitiveness of the crop and beekeeping sectors.
• Advance Resilient Stewardship: As stewards of the land, Alberta producers need effective policy to enable their continued protection of the environment for all Albertans while ensuring economic and social sustainability.

These four advocacy pillars help TAC focus on key areas that are shared by all seven member organizations, such as Right to Repair, the Water Act, and trade infrastructure. Producers shared examples from their own operations, helping government better understand how current policies and decisions impact producers on the ground.

“This is the first time I’ve experienced an advocacy day event,” said Luke Lindholm, a provincial director of the Alberta-British Columbia Seed Growers. “I now see the value of having farmers meet with politicians because we can share real‑life stories about the impact of government policy.”

The 2026 TAC Advocacy Days help strengthen relationships with policymakers and reinforce the importance of practical, producer‑informed decision‑making. Advocacy is an ever‑evolving process and meetings like these move key conversations forward, which is important for continued engagement throughout the year.

Team Alberta Crops is a collaboration between seven of Alberta’s producer groups: Alberta Beekeepers Commission, Alberta Canola, Alberta Grains, Alberta Pulse Growers, Alberta‑British Columbia Seed Growers, Alberta Sugar Beet Growers and the Potato Growers of Alberta. We work together to advance grass‑roots policy and advocate on behalf of Alberta’s crop and beekeeping sectors. For more information, visit teamalbertacrops.com.

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