By Denise Faguy
Farms.com
Canada's agri-food sector received a significant boost, with an announcement from Canada's Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Lawrence MacAulay, and Saskatchewan's Agriculture Minister, David Marit. Both unveiled a joint $5 million funding initiative for the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre located in Saskatoon.
This investment, channeled through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), aims to strengthen the growth of value-added revenue and provincial agri-food exports over the upcoming five years. Saskatchewan's prominence in agricultural production is undisputed. With the backing of initiatives such as these, the province stands to benefit further by commercializing more regional products, emphasized MacAulay.
Marit highlighted Saskatchewan's unique position, boasting one of the country's most rapidly expanding value-added sectors. This growth, he stated, is attributed to its solid agricultural foundation, coupled with potential investments and innovative institutions like the Food Centre. He envisions this funding to further drive new ideas, ensuring the province's agricultural sector remains vibrant and competitive.
The Food Centre, established in 1997, has been a beacon for innovation in the province. This non-profit entity specializes in guiding product development, offering consultation, and supporting commercialization for agri-food processors. Their track record speaks volumes – with the creation of over 1,000 novel products and advisory roles for 500+ companies, including a significant number of agri-food start-ups.
Food Centre President, Mehmet Tulbek, expressed gratitude for this renewed support from the provincial and federal governments. He believes this investment will augment the centre's capacity to innovate, thereby solidifying Saskatchewan's place as a leading food industry innovator.
Tulbek envisages using local raw materials to spawn higher value in the agri-food sector, simultaneously paving the way to global opportunities.