Exporters want more experts, such as veterinarians, to help fight trade barriers being raised by China and other Asian nations.
The Canola Council of Canada, Cereals Canada and Pulse Canada are jointly lobbying the federal government.
They say tariffs, while important, are not being used as much as technical barriers, such as complaints about the potential that diseases might spread or that commodities are failing to meet standards.
In the last year, lentils and peas faced bans imposed by India and China has cut off some Canadian pork suppliers.
“The hope is that by building a network of government scientists and regulators in Asia who are in frequent communication with their counterparts, Canada can address market access issues before they arise or resolve them in a more expedient manner, said Jim Everson of the Canola Council.
