Governments Invest $22.6 Million to Boost Ontario’s Agri-Food Sector
TORONTO – The governments of Canada and Ontario have announced an investment of up to $22.6 million through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to expand production capacity and enhance energy efficiency in Ontario’s agriculture and food sector.
The funding, which supports the Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative, will aid 319 farming and agri-food businesses in adopting innovative technology, equipment, or processes. These investments are expected to generate up to $61 million in production improvements.
“There’s a growing demand for the top-quality products being produced here in Ontario,” said the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “This funding will help provide farmers and the agri-food sector with the tools they need to boost productivity, increase efficiency, and keep feeding the world.”
Our government’s $22.6 million Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative is supporting 319 #farming & #agri-food businesses implement $61 million in production and efficiency enhancements.
Thank your @redpath_sugar for hosting MP @juliedabrusin and I at your incredible #Toronto plant… pic.twitter.com/rqU9IS7qlU
— Rob Flack (@RobFlackEML) August 29, 2024
Rob Flack, Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, added, “These investments will allow established and emerging businesses to optimize their operations and support growth for our agriculture and food sector.”
Examples of the initiative’s impact include a $49,000 investment for Roelofsen Nursery in Norwich to purchase an electric self-propelled sprayer, $45,000 for Byler Enterprises Ltd. in Algoma District to install energy-efficient reverse osmosis equipment for maple syrup production, and $100,000 for Solmaz Foods in Etobicoke to enhance refrigeration and freezer capacity.
This initiative aligns with the Grow Ontario Strategy, which aims to increase the province’s food production and consumption by 30% by 2032 and boost the economic impact of Ontario’s food and beverage manufacturing sector by 10%.
The Sustainable CAP represents a five-year, $3.5 billion commitment from federal, provincial, and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture sector.
