FCC invites expressions of interest in new Agri-food Project Finance initiative

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) today launched a 60-day Expression of Interest (EOI) process for its new $1 billion Agri-food Project Finance initiative. Organizations are invited to bring forward major agri-food processing and manufacturing projects across Canada in support of a stronger, more resilient and affordable food system for all Canadians.

As part of the Government of Canada's National Food Security Strategy, the specialized financing is designed to advance construction-ready, infrastructure projects that expand food processing and manufacturing capacity across Canada. By expanding food processing here at home, Agri-food Project Finance aims to create more value-added Canadian agricultural products, strengthen domestic supply chains and improve long-term food security.

"Our government is focused on strengthening Canada's food system so Canadians can count on a reliable supply of high-quality, affordable food," said Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Heath MacDonald. "This new $1 billion fund, combined with the $150 million investment in Velocity Agri-Capital Partners, will help Canadian agri food businesses bring ambitious projects to life, expand processing capacity, and grow value here at home. By investing in innovation and infrastructure, we're supporting producers and ensuring Canada's food system is resilient for the future."

While Canada produces some of the world's highest-quality agricultural products, much of that is shipped abroad for processing before returning to Canadian grocery store shelves. Many of the projects needed to help close that gap require significant investment and can be difficult to finance through conventional lending alone. Agri-food Project Finance introduces a specialized debt financing approach to help more of those projects move forward.

FCC is uniquely positioned to lead this work through its long-standing presence in Canada's agriculture and food industry, as it supports projects that may face challenges securing conventional lending. With deep market intelligence, data-driven research and analytics, and established relationships across the value chain, FCC will identify where investment could have the greatest impact and how to support promising projects.