The governments of Canada and Manitoba have today announced financial support for Manitoba’s producers and processors under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP). The funding aims to enhance environmental sustainability and improve food safety and traceability, as shared by federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson.
The Sustainable Agri-Processing Program (SAP) offers grants for private companies’ sustainability initiatives in four primary areas:
- The Building Envelope, Lighting, and Ventilation Upgrades stream offer funds to assess and upgrade agri-food and agri-product facilities and equipment to create energy savings and greenhouse gas reductions. This aligns with Manitoba’s greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. Funding covers up to 50% of the project cost, with a maximum of $25,000 per project.
- The Input Use Efficiency stream provides funding to reduce wastage during harvest, crop and ingredient storage, and processing. This is achieved through support towards acquiring assets and systems designed to reduce wastage. Up to 50% of project costs can be funded, with a maximum grant of $50,000 per project.
- The Water Use Efficiency stream offers financial support for projects that reduce water usage in production and sanitation processes, improve wastewater treatment, or recover nutrients from wastewater. This funding complements the Manitoba government’s Water Management Strategy. Funding is available for up to 50% of the project cost, with a ceiling of $250,000 per project.
- The Waste Use Efficiency stream targets projects that reduce or divert agri-processing waste, byproducts, or coproducts, with the same funding parameters as the Water Use Efficiency stream.
In addition to these sustainability-focused programs, the Food Safety and Traceability Program offers funding to help the agri-food and agri-product sectors adopt or improve food safety and traceability practices. These practices are crucial for public safety and a requirement for many customers, associations, and regulators.
Eligible expenses for the Food Safety and Traceability Program include developing and implementing preventative food safety programs, purchasing food safety and traceability-related equipment, and covering consultant fees and training costs. The program will cover up to 60% of eligible expenses for food safety initiatives (up to a maximum of $30,000) and up to 50% of eligible expenses for traceability initiatives (up to a maximum of $30,000).
Minister Bibeau noted that the funding “will support Manitoba producers and processors to deliver a safe and reliable food supply while adapting to climate change. Reducing waste, becoming more efficient with water usage, and finding innovative ways to create a more sustainable food system all strengthen the sector’s competitiveness.”
Minister Johnson echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of addressing “growing consumer and ecological demands for sustainably produced food” and the role of traceability in preventing and responding to animal health or food emergencies.
The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year, $3.5-billion investment by Canada’s federal, provincial, and territorial governments to support Canada’s agri-food and agri-products sectors. The commitment includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion investment cost-shared, 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs designed and delivered by provinces and territories.
Photo by Mahesh Gupta on Unsplash
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