Province, feds commit $5 million for food safety enhancement for small agrifood businesses

Small agriculture and food industry businesses can soon apply for up to $75,000 to enhance food safety systems.

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The province has earmarked $5 million in cost-share funding from Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership funds, issued through Ontario’s Food Safety and Growth Initiative. Successful projects can receive up to 50 per cent of eligible costs, to a maximum of $75,000 per project.

Why it matters: Food and beverage processing is the largest manufacturing sector by employment, and 90 per cent of the more than 4,000 companies in Ontario are small businesses.

This initiative involves food industry businesses with up to 100 employees.

“This announcement supports the sector by improving food safety systems, equipment, standards and training,” said Chris Conway, CEO of Food and Beverage Ontario, in a release. “In turn, this will help food and beverage operators adapt to market and consumer needs as well as grow their businesses.”

“Our government is committed to working with smaller businesses in Ontario’s agriculture and food industry to help them ensure food safety so they can increase sales and expand,” said Rob Flack, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, in the release. The investment dovetails with the Grow Ontario Strategy to strengthen the province’s agri-food supply chain’s stability and competitiveness.

Additionally, it aims to build consumer confidence and small business growth through investments that enhance food safety risk detection, prevention and mitigation and through the adoption of new standards.

The initiative is designed to support the development or improvement of food safety or traceability programs and equipment and technology upgrades, qualified third-party assessments or the implementation of internationally or nationally recognized food safety programs.

“It is vitally important that our farmers and food processors have access to the latest tools and resources they need to continue to produce their top-quality goods,” said the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “This investment in technology and equipment upgrades will help folks prevent and quickly address food safety risks and keep their operations on the cutting edge.”

The application process opens Aug. 21, 2024, and will remain open until 11:59 p.m. EST on Dec. 1, 2025, or until budgeted funds are allocated. Details and information on the application process can be found on the OMAFA website.