Canada Invests Over 10 Million to Expand Agriculture and Food Processing
The Government of Canada has announced more than $10 million in funding for nine projects aimed at strengthening Saskatchewan's agriculture and agri-food sector. The investment will help businesses and organizations improve innovation, expand production, create jobs, and reach new markets.
The funding supports projects across several areas of the agriculture industry, including food processing, research, manufacturing, and livestock production. The goal is to help Canadian agri-food businesses respond to growing global demand for safe, high-quality food products while strengthening domestic supply chains.
Several Saskatchewan-based organizations will use the funding to support innovation and business growth. The Global Agri-Food Advancement Partnership (GAAP), the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS), and the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) will help companies develop new products, adopt advanced technologies, and increase production capacity for Canadian and international markets.
“Saskatchewan has long been an agricultural powerhouse. Across the province, farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and businesses are helping grow the food Canada and the world need,” said Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan).
He added, “Our government is investing so Saskatchewan can do even more with those strengths here at home — expanding value-added agriculture, growing food processing and manufacturing, and strengthening domestic supply chains — driving economic growth and creating good jobs along the way.”
Food processing companies are also receiving support. POS Biosciences Corp. and Bioriginal Food & Science Corp. will upgrade and expand their processing and packaging facilities. These improvements are expected to increase the production of high-value Canadian specialty ingredients and provide more locally sourced products for businesses and consumers.
“Our agriculture and agri-food sector supports 2.3 million jobs across Canada and exports more than $100 billion in products to over 200 countries. Here in Saskatchewan, the sector accounts for over 40% of the province’s exports, reaching $18 billion in 2025. By investing in innovation and securing new economic partnerships, we are helping Canadian businesses reach new markets, building on the $33 billion in exports to non-U.S. markets last year that included world-class products from Saskatchewan farmers,” said Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade.
The livestock sector will benefit from investments in North 49 Foods Ltd. and Prairie Meats Inc. North 49 Foods plans to expand production and explore new export opportunities, while Prairie Meats will improve its manufacturing capabilities to produce food products that meet strict quality standards for distribution across Saskatchewan and Canada.
Industry leaders say the investments will help businesses move innovative ideas from research to commercial success. The funding will also support advanced genomic research and biomanufacturing capabilities, helping researchers and companies develop practical solutions for agriculture and food production challenges.
“This new platform dramatically enhances our ability to generate the high-quality genomic data needed to advance next generation agriculture. The increased capacity and efficiency of the NovaSeq X Plus will help GIFS to further bridge the gap between scientific discovery and practical application, enabling faster translation of genomic innovations into solutions that benefit farmers, strengthen food systems, and support economic growth across the Prairies,” said Jason Reinheimer, CEO, Global Institute for Food Security.
Government officials highlighted Saskatchewan's important role in Canada's agriculture economy and emphasized the need for continued investment in value-added agriculture, food manufacturing, and export growth. The projects are expected to help create jobs, strengthen rural communities, support farmers, and increase Canada's competitiveness in global agri-food markets.
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