WATERLOO – The governments of Canada and Ontario are partnering to invest almost $22 million through the Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative to help more than 130 Ontario farmers and processors sell more Ontario grown products around the world. The investment will support projects that diversify and expand agri-food trade opportunities, create 925 good-paying jobs and advance the province’s plan to protect Ontario’s agri-food sector by building a more secure, sovereign and self-reliant food supply.
As part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, this investment supports the province’s Grow Ontario Strategy to give farmers and businesses the tools they need to build long-term resiliency, create good-paying jobs and stay competitive in the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty. This government funding, combined with cost-shared investments by the sector, is expected to generate up to $134 million in investments for Ontario farmers and processors.
“Creating new export opportunities for Ontario food products starts with improving market access and working together,” said the Honourable Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “By leveraging our shared strengths, we are helping to build a stronger and more resilient agricultural sector.”
“We are laser focused on expanding markets and trade opportunities for Ontario farmers and agribusinesses,” said Sam Oosterhoff, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “The Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative is protecting agri-food jobs and agribusiness resilience in the face of unprovoked tariffs from Donald Trump. This $22 million investment is unleashing over $110 million in private sector investment, creating over 900 new good-paying jobs and keeping Ontario’s food supply chain secure, sovereign and self-reliant."
Applications for the Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative opened earlier this year to help Ontario farmers and processors expand into new domestic and international markets and strengthen production capacity through three funding streams. Examples of projects supported through the initiative include:
- Up to $499,000 to Martin’s Family Fruit Farm in Waterloo to develop an innovative packaging line for apple sauce.
- Up to $70,000 to Beck’s Broth in Kitchener to launch new products and expand distribution nationally.
- Up to $494,000 to Lynch Ag Ltd. in Englehart for a handling line, optical sorter and AI enabled grading software to support increased interprovincial and export sales.
- Up to $310,000 to Canada Royal Milk in Kingston for a pulse light system and a shrink wrapper packaging system to diversify beyond Canadian retail markets.
Cost-sharing rates and maximum funding amounts vary by funding stream. The investment also supports the Grow Ontario Strategy’s goal of increasing the province’s agri-food exports by eight per cent annually by 2032.
The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a 5-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture and agri‐food sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment for programs designed and delivered by the provinces and territories, cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially.
Source : News Ontario