A leading Canadian agri-food expert says Canada has an opportunity to significantly boost its gross domestic product and be a key player in the coming agriculture-industrial revolution.

But Evan Fraser, head of the University of Guelph's Food Institute, says the sector needs investment from the federal government to take advantage of the opportunity.

He says population is growing and with climate change, food is expected to be harder to produce.

Fraser notes there's a strong likelihood agriculture will rise in importance in terms of global economic trade and Canada is poised to play an increasingly important role.