New Program to Help Food Processors Recalibrate for Domestic Market

Mar 21, 2025

Protein Industries Canada (PIC) on Thursday announced a new $3-million program to help Canadian food and ingredient companies remain competitive in the wake of the ongoing uncertainty around trade with the US.

The program will “support the development of new, or the reformulation of existing products, for the domestic market,” a PIC release said.

“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% of eligible costs to a maximum project cost of $200,000. To be eligible, projects must include at least one of the following:

Click here to see more...

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.