On August 7, government officials visited the Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab at the Craig Richardson Institute for Food Processing Technology to announce funding for agri-food businesses. Through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, up to $5 million will be available to help small businesses in the agriculture and food industry enhance their food safety systems.
Officials gathered at Conestoga's Food Research & Innovation Lab on August 7 to announce funding for small agri-food businesses.
“It is vitally important that our farmers and food processors have access to the latest tools and resources they need to continue to produce their top-quality goods,” said the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “This investment in technology and equipment upgrades will help folks prevent and quickly address food safety risks and keep their operations on the cutting edge.”
Funding will be provided to eligible food processors, producers and service providers to improve food safety systems, adopt new food safety and traceability equipment, technologies and standards and provide related training to employees. The funding will also enable operators to respond to market and consumer demands and grow their business.
“Our government is committed to working with smaller businesses in Ontario’s agriculture and food industry to help them ensure food safety so they can increase sales and expand,” said Rob Flack, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “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.”
This announcement was attended by Conestoga community members and representatives of the federal and provincial governments, including: Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness; Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food; MPP Ernie Hardeman, Oxford; MP Bryan May, Cambridge; MP Tim Louis, Kitchener-Conestoga; MP Valerie Bradford, Kitchener South-Hespeler; and MP Bardish Chagger, Waterloo.
Applications for the initiative will open on August 21, 2024. For more information about OMAFA programs and services, contact the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or by email at ag.info.omafa@ontario.ca.
Opened in 2011 at the Cambridge - Fountain Street campus, Conestoga's Institute of Food Processing Technology meets the needs of the food and beverage manufacturing industry by providing education, training, research and technical expertise. Within the institute is the Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab, supporting the needs of start-ups and small- and medium-sized businesses in the food and culinary sector with innovative solutions to the product development cycle, including formula development, shelf-life studies, packaging testing and scale-up.