Governments Announce Funding to Strengthen Ontario Food Supply System 

The federal and Ontario governments jointly announced a $7.5 million contribution Friday for a variety of projects aimed at strengthening the province’s food supply system. 

Combined with cost-shared investments by the sector, the investment through the Biosecurity Enhancement Initiative is expected to generate up to $31.5 million in total funding across the Ontario agri-food sector, a provincial release said. 

Under the initiative, farmers, processors, and select farm-supporting agri-food businesses were eligible for cost-share funding ranging from 35 to 50%, depending on the project category. Supported activities include the implementation of technologies that reduce the spread of animal and plant diseases and capital upgrades that enhance biosecurity, such as constructing isolation facilities and wash bays. 

Examples of funded projects include: 

• Up to $50,000 for a sheep farm in Clarington to build a new barn to improve its on-farm isolation and separation processes; 

• Up to $50,000 for an Ottawa-area farm to purchase and implement an electronic traceability collection system to improve biosecurity and animal health for its cattle farming operation. 

“Maintaining and strengthening Ontario’s world-class food safety system is the number one priority for this ministry,” said Rob Flack, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “This initiative builds on our government’s consistent record of enhancing the resilience of Ontario’s food supply chains and boosting our standing as a globally trusted producer of agri-food commodities and goods.”