Protein Industries Canada launches supply chain program

Protein Industries Canada introduces the $3 million Strengthening the Canadian Supply Chain Program to support Canadian companies in the development or reformulation of products for the domestic market. The program aims to help ingredient manufacturers and food processors remain competitive amidst ongoing trade uncertainties with the US.

“Now more than ever, it is vital that we support our Canadian ingredient manufacturers and food processors. Their ability to remain viable is key to Canada’s agriculture and food sector, and Canada’s domestic supply chain,” CEO of Protein Industries Canada Robert Hunter said. “This program will help our manufacturers and processors create or reformulate products for the Canadian market, using Canadian ingredients.”

The Strengthening the Canadian Supply Chain Program will reimburse up to 75 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum project cost of $200,000. To be eligible, projects must include at least one of the following:

reformulating products with domestically produced ingredients;
scale-up and commercialisation work to increase the supply of domestically produced food products to Canadian consumers; or
scale-up and commercialisation of domestically produced ingredients to Canadian manufacturers.

The projects are required to use Canadian feedstocks or ingredients derived from Canadian crops such as wheat, oats, barley, peas, soy or fava beans. Other emerging crops, such as lupin or hemp, will also be considered.

Additionally, changes have been made to the Technology Leadership Program to increase reimbursement on the cost of eligible commissioned capital and equipment, helping companies build processing capacity in Canada.

“Canada can be the preferred ingredient supplier to the world – building off our strong advantages as an agricultural powerhouse. To seize that opportunity we must invest in, and support, our domestic processing capacity,” Hunter said. “The Strengthening the Canadian Supply Chain Program is an interim step to help our companies weather the current turbulence, but as a country we need to become serious about our ability to add value to our products here at home. In doing so, we will not only secure Canada’s food supply chain, but we will also generate new economic growth and jobs for Canadians.”

Companies interested in applying to the Strengthening the Canadian Supply Chain Program may send an email to projects@proteinsupercluster.ca.