The governments of Canada and Manitoba are investing more than $6 million to help grow the economy by increasing food production facilities and supporting jobs across Manitoba under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced here today.

“When we invest in food processors, we’re helping them grow, stay competitive and ensure they can keep putting their high-quality food on tables here in Canada and around the world,” said MacDonald. “These projects will help build a stronger, more resilient food system while supporting good jobs in the process.”

A total of 19 food processors in Manitoba have been approved for funding for equipment upgrades, facility expansions, and new technologies that will improve efficiency, production capacity and environmental performance.

“These investments support our economy, strengthen our communities and ensure sustainable food security for generations,” said Kostyshyn. “By enhancing our local food infrastructure, we help to create jobs, reduce our carbon footprint and foster a resilient food system that benefits everyone.”

“We’re grateful for the support from the governments of Canada and Manitoba through Sustainable CAP,” said Dennis Organ, president, Pork Operations, Maple Leaf Foods. “This investment will help us modernize our Brandon pork facility with state-of-the-art equipment, improving reliability, efficiency and production quality. This investment positions us to increase processing capacity, create new jobs and strengthen Canada’s food system while meeting growing consumer demand.”

Some other approved projects include:

• Jowett Farms Corporation in Blumenort, for refrigeration and line speed improvements;
• River Valley Specialty Farms Inc. in Bagot, for installation of a high-accuracy sorter;
• Prairie Flour Mills Ltd. in Elie, for grain-receiving expansion;
• Buffalo Creek Mills in Altona, for doubling capacity of oat-flaking; and
• Prairie Fava Ltd. in Glenboro, for increasing storage capacity.

The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially-territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.

Source - https://www.sasktoday.ca