365 agri-food businesses will receive funding to enhance operational resilience to diseases and pests
Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $7.5 million to support 365 projects that will help the province’s farmers, food processors, and essential farm-supporting agribusinesses protect their operations against pests and diseases while enhancing operational resilience and strengthening public trust in our food supply system.
The funding through the Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative, combined with cost-shared investments by the sector, is expected to generate up to $31.5 million in total biosecurity enhancements across Ontario’s agri-food sector.
Under the initiative, farmers, processors, and select farm-supporting agri-food businesses were eligible for cost-share funding ranging from 35% to 50%, depending on the project category. Supported activities include the implementation of technologies that reduce the spread of animal and plant diseases and capital upgrades that enhance biosecurity (such as constructing isolation facilities and wash bays).
Examples of projects include:
- Up to $50,000 for a sheep farm in Clarington to build a new barn to improve its on-farm isolation and separation processes.
- Up to $50,000 for an Ottawa-area farm to purchase and implement an electronic traceability collection system to improve biosecurity and animal health for its cattle farming operation.
- Up to $29,353 for a berry farm in Niagara Region for a steam treatment system to eliminate damaging pests and diseases.
This initiative is funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), a 5-year, $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen 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% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories.
Quotes
“Keeping our food safe while applying best management practices is vital to ensuring Ontario’s agri-food system continues to thrive. These projects will help enhance biosecurity along our supply chains so we can keep feeding Canadians, and the world.”
– The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
“Maintaining and strengthening Ontario’s world-class food safety system is the number one priority for this ministry. This initiative builds on our government’s consistent record of enhancing the resilience of Ontario’s food supply chains and boosting our standing as a globally trusted producer of agri-food commodities and goods.”
– Rob Flack, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness
“We are pleased with the government’s Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative, which has enabled 70 producers to enhance biosecurity measures on their farms. This funding plays an important role in protecting the health of our livestock, ensuring the long-term sustainability of our industry, and maintaining confidence in the safety of Ontario-produced pork. By investing in biosecurity, we are strengthening our farms and safeguarding our food system against potential threats.”
– Tara Terpstra, Board Chair, Ontario Pork
Quick facts
- Enhancing the sector’s ability to anticipate, mitigate and respond to diseases and pests was a key priority set for Sustainable CAP by the federal-provincial-territorial agricultural ministers in The Guelph Statement.
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In 2023, Ontario’s agri-food industry contributed almost $51 billion in GDP to the provincial economy and employed over 871,000 people.
