Minister MacAulay announces nearly $10 million in funding to strengthen local food security

Jan 18, 2024

NEW HAMBURG, ON, - From coast to coast, food banks and community organizations provide vital support and services to address local food security needs and increase access to healthy food.

Today, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and Tim Louis, Member of Parliament for Kitchener–Conestoga, visited the Wilmot Family Resource Centre to announce up to $9.98 million in funding through the fifth phase of the Local Food Infrastructure Fund (LFIF).

This funding will support up to 192 new community-led projects across the country through investments in equipment and infrastructure needs to help improve the accessibility of nutritious, local food.

LFIF is a key component of the first-ever Food Policy for Canada and central to efforts to build a healthier and more sustainable food system in Canada. Since it first launched in August 2019, LFIF has committed $64.8 million to support over 1,100 projects to improve food security across Canada, including community gardens and kitchens, refrigerated trucks and storage units for donated food, and greenhouses in remote and Northern communities.

The Government is working to provide relief to Canadians struggling with the increased cost of living. Through the introduction of Bill C-56, the Affordable Housing and Groceries Act, and efforts outlined in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement, the Government will continue to support Canadian families and stabilize food prices.

Source : Newswire.ca

Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.