Projects funding technology to enhance labour, food safety
Ontario is committing more than $6.5 million in funding to food processors and other businesses in the agri-food sector to help them continue to support local jobs and bring safe, high-quality food to local and international markets.
The fund will be part of a $28-million joint investment in the sector — with the rest being funded by the businesses receiving the support — that will support more than 100 projects relating to food safety, labour productivity and waste reduction.
These projects will support the implementation of technology or other systems to enhance food safety, and the move to advanced manufacturing technology to enhance labour. It will also help in the development of new products or processes designed to lead to significantly increased sales, says the government.
"Investing in these projects will help boost innovation, enhance productivity and increase sales for our food processing sector and open the doors to new markets for the incredibly high quality foods we produce," says Ernie Hardeman, Ontario minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs.
The government will provide the funding through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year, $3-billion commitment by the federal, provincial and territorial governments that supports the country’s agri-food and agri-products sectors.
The latest application intake for cost-share funding for processors and other businesses opened on Nov. 4 and will close on Nov. 26.
Ontario’s agri-food sector supports more than 837,000 jobs in Ontario and contributes more than $47.5 billion annually to the province’s economy.
