Ontario announces program to help food and beverage manufacturers

BLYTH — The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $6 million in projects to help Ontario food and beverage processors improve their operations, increase their competitive edge and adapt to challenges as the food and beverage manufacturers try and emerge from the pandemic.

Applications for this program will be accepted in two phases. Starting on Aug. 5, applications for the first phase of this new intake under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership will be accepted.

As of August 5, program materials including the application form and program guide will be available online through OMAFRA:
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/cap/index.htm

The second phase of the intake will open next month for targeted projects to improve labour productivity, efficiency and reduce waste.

Some examples of projects eligible for support under the first phase of applications for food and beverage processors include:

• implementing new technology to improve food safety
• developing new products to increase sales
• improving animal health through preventing the introduction and spread of disease throughout an operation

This new intake builds on other supports extended to the province’s food processing and agri-food sector during COVID-19. Examples of such recent initiatives include:

• a more than $7 million investment to boost production and capacity in the meat processing sector under the Meat Processors Capacity Improvement Initiative
• a $2.25 million investment in provincially licensed meat processing plants to better protect employees and Ontario’s food supply under the Agri-food Workplace Protection Program
• a $22 million provincial investment to increase the adoption of technological innovations within the agri-food sector to enhance the health and safety of workers and improve the sector’s efficiency and productivity through the Agri-Tech Innovation Program