WATERLOO, ONTARIO — The federal and Ontario governments are investing nearly $22 million in market-diversification projects for more than 130 farmers and food processors across the province.

The funding comes through the Market Diversification and Trade Resiliency Initiative. The governments say the supported businesses will use it to expand into domestic and international markets, increase production capacity and reduce exposure to trade disruptions.

Governments project 925 jobs

Ottawa and Queen’s Park estimate the projects will create 925 jobs. Combined with required contributions from recipients, the public funding is expected to generate as much as $134 million in total project investment.

Those employment and investment figures are government projections rather than completed results. Approved projects are due to finish by October 15, 2027, and cost-sharing rates vary by funding stream.

The announced projects include up to $499,000 for Martin’s Family Farm in Waterloo to develop an applesauce packaging line; up to $70,000 for Beck’s Broth in Kitchener to launch products and expand national distribution; up to $494,000 for Lynch Ag Ltd. in Englehart to add handling, optical sorting and artificial-intelligence grading equipment; and up to $310,000 for Canada Royal Milk in Kingston to install packaging systems.

Part of a five-year partnership

The initiative is part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a five-year federal-provincial-territorial program running from 2023 to 2028. The broader partnership totals $3.5 billion, including $2.5 billion in programs cost-shared 60 per cent by Ottawa and 40 per cent by participating provinces and territories.

The funding also supports Ontario’s goal of increasing agri-food exports by eight per cent annually by 2032. Whether the individual projects reach the stated export, job and investment targets will depend on their execution over the next year.

Sources: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, October 13; Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership; Ontario’s Grow Ontario strategy.

Lead image: Flag of Ontario via Wikimedia Commons, public domain. Illustrative image.