The Ontario government will spend $25 million over three years to strengthen the agri-food supply chain through the Strategic Agri-Food Processing Fund.
The funding is designed to “incentivize industry investment in projects that help address the processing capacity shortage and increase the sector’s competitiveness and resilience against future disruptions,” the province says.
Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, says agriculture and food processing are a driving force that help power the Ontario economy and will contribute to recovery and prosperity.
“This strategic investment will not only boost capacity and competitiveness in Ontario’s agri-food processing sector, but it will also position the sector for long-term growth, create jobs, and promote economic opportunities for rural communities.”
Starting in the 2021-22 year, the Strategic Agri-Food Processing Fund will provide grants of up to $3 million to agri-food processing businesses to invest in capital, equipment, and technology.
Specific program details will be available upon the program’s launch in the spring of 2022.
The funding was originally announced November 4, 2021 in the Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review.
