Governments investing in Ontario’s maple syrup sector
News release
Canada and Ontario providing up to $1 million to boost production
September 26, 2023 – Toronto, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $1 million over 2 years through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to support productivity and growth in the province’s maple syrup sector.
The Maple Production Improvement Initiative will provide eligible maple syrup producers access to cost-shared funding to support a range of activities to enhance their operations. Project costs can be applied retroactively to April 1, 2023, when Sustainable CAP officially launched.
Under the Maple Production Improvement Initiative, applicants can receive up to 50% cost-share funding for eligible costs, to a maximum of $20,000 per project.
Eligible businesses can apply for support through this program starting on November 9, 2023. The initiative will support the purchase and installation of upgraded production equipment for eligible syrup producers, that increase productivity, efficiency and growth, such as reverse osmosis or remote monitoring systems. It will also provide funding to cover a portion of certain woodlot management activities, including tree marking and the development of a forest plan, to assist the operation of eligible businesses.
This initiative was developed following discussions with sector businesses. It builds on other actions the government has taken to support the overall agri-food sector’s growth, such as a Minister-led agri-food trade mission to Japan and Vietnam in February 2023. It also follows recent committed investments of up to $6 million through the Grow Ontario Market Initiative and more than $68 million through the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Initiative.
To be eligible, applicants must have a minimum of 1,000 taps in operation, as of April 1, 2023 and meet other criteria.
Sustainable CAP is a 5-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion investment by federal‐provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5 billion commitment that is cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs designed and delivered by the provinces and territories.
Quotes
“Ontario’s maple syrup producers continue to deliver exceptional products that are enjoyed here in Canada, and around the world. This initiative is an investment in future growth, and will bring more operational efficiency to the sector.”
- The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
“Our government appreciates the resilience and determination of maple syrup producers throughout Ontario and how they have continued to build a solid market for their maple syrup products. This investment, through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, will drive increased production, supporting specific growth targets for the wider sector laid out in our Grow Ontario Strategy.”
- Lisa Thompson, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
“Ontario has a tremendous opportunity to grow its maple syrup sector; whereas Ontario has the largest number of maple trees in Canada, only a very small percentage of this number is used for maple syrup production. The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association is very pleased by this announcement, and we look forward to continuing to work closely, with both levels of government, to create the conditions to bring more of Ontario's maple trees into production.”
- Randal Goodfellow, President, Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association
Quick facts
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The Maple Production Improvement Initiative will be delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA). More details about the initiative and its application process will soon be available online via the OSCIA.
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Eligible costs will be retroactive to April 1, 2023.
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To be eligible to participate in the Maple Production Improvement Initiative, an applicant must also have or be enrolled in at least one of the following: Farm Business Registration Number (FBRN), or an Order from the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Appeal Tribunal exempting the producer from having to have a FBRN, or a letter from the Indian Agriculture Program of Ontario, Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program and or Forest Stewardship Council certification.
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Ontario government calculations suggest that over 1,000 jobs and close to $42 million in gross domestic product (GDP) were attributed to the maple industry value chain (farm, processing and retail), in 2022.
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Building sector capacity and growth through realizing the potential of value added agri-food and agri-products were among the top priorities set for Sustainable CAP by the federal-provincial-territorial agricultural ministers in The Guelph Statement.
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Contacts
For media:
Annie Cullinan
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
annie.cullinan@agr.gc.ca
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca
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Web: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Sam McCormick
Office of the Minister of Agriculture, Food
and Rural Affairs
Sam.McCormick@ontario.ca
Connie Osborne
Communications Branch
OMAFRA.media@ontario.ca
519-826-3145
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