Agri-Tech Innovation initiative receives $22.6 to support 319 farms and agri-food businesses

Sep 04, 2024

Up to $22.6 million in funds are being allocated towards the Agri-Tech Innovation initiative to further develop energy efficiency and expand production capacity in the agriculture and food sector.

In a recent press release, the government of Canada and Ontario announced the expenditure through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to help 319 farming and agri-food businesses invest in innovative technology, equipment or processes that will expand production capacity or enhance efficiency.

“Our government knows that supporting innovation in Ontario’s agriculture and food sector is key to it reaching its potential, while securing our collective ability to achieve the ambitious goals in our Grow Ontario Strategy,” said Rob Flack, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “These investments will allow established and emerging businesses to speed up efforts to optimize their operations and support growth for our agriculture and food sector.”

Sustainable CAP is a five year, $3.5-billion subsidy from federal, provincial and territorial governments, that aim to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri-food, and agri-based products sector.

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Video: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, 95% of the genetics they’ll be growing come from Canadian plant breeders.

That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

For farmers like Darcy, who have made generational investments based on the assumption that better genetics will keep coming, the stakes are direct and personal.

We’re on the brink of decisions that will shape our agricultural future for not only our generation, but also the ones to come.

What direction will we choose?

On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?