Northern Development Minister Greg Rickford was in Sudbury this week for the Northern Ontario Ag Conference, and he took the opportunity to announce $1.8 million in funding for 10 agri-food projects in the north.
As reported by NorthernOntarioBusiness.com, the five-year-old conference is an annual event hosted by the Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance (NOFIA) and the Rural Agri-Innovation Network (a division of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre).
Founded in 2014, NOFIA is a Temiskaming-based non-profit advocacy group that aims to advance agricultural research and innovation in northern Ontario.
Held Feb. 15-16 at Sudbury’s Holiday Inn, the event drew agricultural specialists from across the north to network, share their research, and learn about the industry’s latest innovations.
During the event, Rickford announced the $1.8 million in funding through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to 10 agri-food projects in the north.
Ontario said in a news release the funding “will boost local food production, create jobs and stimulate expansion and diversification in the northern agri-food sector.”
“Our government is committed to expanding access to fresh, locally produced food, and we are proud to help agri-food businesses become a cornerstone of the northern Ontario economy,” said Rickford in the release.
The 10 projects receiving funding are:
- $645,400 for Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Association to install tile drainage on 1,168 acres, which will increase arable land and crop yields
- $395,400 for Don Poulin Potatoes Inc. to boost their packing capacity, storage space and efficiency to meet the current market demand, help small farmers by providing warehouse access and supply larger markets in Sudbury
- $200,000 for Marquee Farms to build a 3,200 sq. ft.- controlled environment agriculture facility in Sundridge and buy equipment to grow herbs and leafy greens sustainably year-round that will help address local demand and improve food safety, security and autonomy
- $200,000 for Martin Agri Services to provide leading-edge equipment and field services currently unavailable on Manitoulin Island and improve on-farm production, efficiency and crop yield, while reducing the carbon footprint of the local agriculture sector
- $193,638 to Borderlands Farm in Neebing to build the only wool mill of its kind in the North, construct a storage building and buy equipment to produce fresh lamb, wool products and garlic year-round
- $131,130 to Milford Bay Trout Farm Inc. to build a new processing facility in Parry Sound, with equipment that will increase production capacity to meet high demand, supply new markets and develop unique smoked trout products
- $30,130 for Lely Center Temiskaming – a robotic farming equipment retailer – to build their own facility and workshop for parts and repairs
- $20,082 for Sweet North Bakery in Thunder Bay to expand production capacity by purchasing new equipment and renovating a newly leased property
- $15,000 for Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance (NOFIA) to support the Northern Ontario Ag Conference 2023 in Sudbury
- $11,709 for Eat The Fish – a wild-caught fish processor in Shuniah – for new equipment and interior upgrades that will expand efficiency and processing volume through automation.
– with files from Northern Ontario Business