The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan announced $250,000 in funding today as part of a $1.7 million project to increase co-packing capacity at the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre in Saskatoon.

“The Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector thrives when entrepreneurs are able to take that first step to develop and commercialize a new product. This investment in the expansion of the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre will open the door wider to a new generation of innovators who will drive new growth in the Saskatchewan economy.”

- The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food 

“More expertise, more capability and more flexibility at the Food Centre creates more opportunities for agri-businesses to commercialize new products. Saskatchewan's value-added agriculture sector is bursting with potential. This investment taps into that potential for industry to turn their ideas into innovative, sustainable, marketable goods which keep them competitive and keep our economy growing.”

- David Marit, Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister

“The Food Centre has been supporting agri-food companies in launching new products and providing them with interim processing solutions since 1997. As the global landscape changes and challenges in supply chains increase, Western Canada is being positioned to develop its footprint as a key supplier for both ingredients and ready-to-eat foods. This project will build on our current capacity to expand our capabilities in specific areas such as packaging, food processing, milling, modified ingredient scale-up and ingredient isolation in the plant-based food sector.”

- Mehmet Tulbek, President, Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. 

• The Food Centre offers the capacity and expertise to pilot new products without the need for major capital investments in unproven technologies, making it a strong support mechanism for companies seeking to launch them.      

• The Food Centre has already been a major resource in expanding the potential of pulse-based ingredients and has identified new innovative utilization solutions in food applications.

• The $250,000 in funding was provided through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership which preceded the current Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP). The Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) was a 5-year, $3 billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen and grow Canada's agriculture, agri-food and agri-products sectors. This included a $2 billion commitment that was cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs that were designed and delivered by provinces and territories.

Associated links

• Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
• Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture)
• Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre

For media:

Simon Lafortune
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
simon.lafortune@agr.gc.ca
343‑549‑0778

Media Relations
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Jamie Shanks
Agriculture
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5155
jamie.shanks2@gov.sk.ca