In a push to make Canada a food-producing powerhouse, the federal and provincial governments have come to a bipartisan deal that will see $5 million go towards small agri-food businesses in Ontario.
Cambridge MP Bryan May joined Lawrence MacAulay, federal minister of agriculture and agri-food and Rob Flack, Ontario minister of agriculture, food and agri-business at the Conestoga College Cambridge campus this morning to announce the funding for small food producers.
The Food Safety and Growth Initiative will provide funding to eligible food processors, producers and service providers to improve food safety systems and meet consumer demands.
"The applications are starting and are open all year until the end of 2025 so there will be opportunities for businesses at all levels to look at the application process to see where they fit in," May said.
He added that Canada is in a position to feed the world, but there are barriers to technology and innovation that both levels of government are trying to address with this funding.
"Our government is committed to working with smaller businesses in Ontario's agriculture and food industry to help ensure food safety so they can increase sales and expand," said Flack. "Investments through the Food Safety and Growth Initiative will allow smaller food businesses to improve their operations so they can grow and compete in Ontario and outside our borders."
Projects that will be supported with this funding will include development or improvements of food safety or traceability programs, upgrades to equipment and technology upgrades that will help them compete on an international level.
Flack added that Canada is on its way to becoming one of the largest food-producing nations in the world with Ontario having more workers in the food and drink industry than the automotive industry.
This growth in the food industry is why minister MacAuley wants to see Canadian businesses have access to the most advanced technology in the world to keep Ontario and Canada competitive.
Successful projects are eligible to receive 50 per cent of eligible costs up to a maximum of $75,000 per project. Any food industry business with fewer than 100 employees is eligible for support through this program.
This move comes as the world becomes more volatile and resources like food and energy are being weaponized, noted May.
"We've seen over the last couple of years not just the weaponization of energy but also food and the issues that we're seeing in Eastern Europe. We have a role to play in helping not just on the battlefield but really helping people survive this from a food perspective," he said.
When asked if this funding would help bring food prices down, MacAuley acknowledged that food prices all over the global market have increased, but did not specify how this would lower prices here in Cambridge or Canada.
