Up to $22.6 million in funds are being allocated towards the Agri-Tech Innovation initiative to further develop energy efficiency and expand production capacity in the agriculture and food sector.
In a recent press release, the government of Canada and Ontario announced the expenditure through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to help 319 farming and agri-food businesses invest in innovative technology, equipment or processes that will expand production capacity or enhance efficiency.
“Our government knows that supporting innovation in Ontario’s agriculture and food sector is key to it reaching its potential, while securing our collective ability to achieve the ambitious goals in our Grow Ontario Strategy,” said Rob Flack, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “These investments will allow established and emerging businesses to speed up efforts to optimize their operations and support growth for our agriculture and food sector.”
Sustainable CAP is a five year, $3.5-billion subsidy from federal, provincial and territorial governments, that aim to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sector.
“There’s a growing demand for the top-quality products being produced here in Ontario,” said Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food in the release. “With support through the Sustainable CAP, 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.”
The initiative is expected to generate up to $61 million in production improvements in the industry, through the combination of government and cost-shared resources by the agriculture and food sector.
Some of the investments already made through the initiative include, up to $49,000 for Roelofsen Nursery, in Norwich to purchase an electric self-propelled sprayer for field nursery crops; up to $45,000 for Byler Enterprises Ltd., in Algoma District, to install reverse osmosis equipment for maple syrup production that concentrates sap, reducing boiling time and required energy, while improving syrup quality; up to $100,000 for Solmaz Foods, in Etobicoke for a refrigeration and freezer investment to enhance energy efficiency and capacity.
“We are proud of our 65-year heritage in Toronto as a crucial food maker in Canada’s agricultural supply chain. We welcome the ATII program’s investment in our efficiency and productivity, as it will help enable our continued long-term competitiveness,” said Cyril Ryan, senior vice president, Redpath Sugar Ltd., in the release.
The funds aid the Grow Ontario Strategy’s objectives of increasing production and consumption of food grown and prepared in Ontario by 30 percent by 2032. It also aims to boost the economic impact of the province’s food and beverage manufacturing sector by 10 percent.
Approved projects under the initiative are expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
More information about the initiative can be found here.
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