Farms.com Home   News

Minister MacAulay announces 10 organizations to deliver the School Food Infrastructure Fund to help strengthen food security in communities across Canada

Ottawa, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Kids need access to nutritious food at school so they can learn, grow, and reach their full potential. That is why the Government of Canada is taking action to strengthen wider community and local food systems through investments in infrastructure that expand the reach and impact of school food programming.

Today, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced the 10 initial recipients of the up to $20.2-million federal School Food Infrastructure Fund (SFIF). As part of the $62.9-million announcement in Budget 2024, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is delivering the SFIF over the next year to support the purchase and installation of infrastructure and equipment that increases the capacity of community organizations to produce, process, store, and distribute food for school food programs.

The initial recipients include Breakfast Club of Canada, Farm to Cafeteria Canada, Food Banks Canada, Food Depot Alimentaire, Food First NL, Mazon Canada, Saskatchewan School Boards Association, Second Harvest, United Way BC and United Way East Ontario.

These initial recipients will further distribute funding to eligible not-for-profit organizations (known as ultimate recipients) through individual application intakes. Eligible community-based organizations are encouraged to use the SFIF initial recipient finder to determine which organization best serves their geographic area and needs.

Source : Canada.ca

Trending Video

Robotics and Automation for Weed Management

Video: Robotics and Automation for Weed Management

Dr. Jed Colquhoun explores the rapidly evolving field of robotics and automation in agricultural weed management. He contextualizes the need for alternative weed control methods due to rising herbicide resistance, regulatory restrictions, and labor shortages. The presentation showcases cutting-edge technologies such as laser weeders, spot cultivators, and AI-driven imaging systems, with a focus on real-world research using the Carbon Robotics laser weeder in onion production. Viewers will learn about the effectiveness, precision, and potential yield benefits of these tools, as well as their fit in high-value crops and labor-limited systems. The video concludes with a look at future directions in automation and commercialization for farms of all sizes.