Overview

As part of the government’s Grow Ontario Strategy, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) launched the Food Security and Supply Chain Fund for agri-food businesses and non-profit organizations on November 28, 2022.

We are working with industry partners and investing up to $10 million to:

  • address supply chain issues
  • reduce agri-food sector vulnerabilities
  • increase resilience
  • strengthen the food supply for Ontarians

The targeted initiatives support economic recovery and resiliency of the agri-food sector in 2 critical areas:

Supply Chain Stability and Adaptability Program

Agri-Food Supply Chain Resiliency Analysis Stream

This stream is aimed at identifying and addressing market and supply chain challenges driven or worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding is meant to help agri-food businesses and non-profit corporations complete resiliency analysis for identifying supply-chain gaps/areas of weakness and develop an action plan for priority areas.

Funding

Up to 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $50,000 per project.

Depending on the merit assessment of the project and funding availability, funding may be provided at either:

  • the amount or percentage requested
  • at a reduced amount or percentage

Agri-Food Supply Chain Infrastructure Investment Stream

This stream is aimed at helping agri-food businesses and non-profit organizations acquire the equipment and assets necessary to grow capacity in a manner that meets the increased demand for Ontario grown and produced food products.

Examples of projects funded under this stream in the fruit and vegetable sector include:

  • new grading and automation technologies to upgrade sorting and packing lines and help to reduce labour gaps
  • the adoption of innovative robotics to increase crop yields and reduce labour and herbicide costs
  • storage capacity expansion projects that will boost supply chain resiliency for Ontario products

In the livestock sector, projects under this stream will help to improve business resiliency and market competitiveness by enabling on-farm biosecurity improvements, including:

  • new weight scales used in the strategic marketing of beef cattle
  • the adoption of robotic milking systems for dairy operations

In the food processing sector, projects may include:

  • meat refrigeration and production capacity initiatives
  • new cheese line conversions to help increase supply chain stability
  • investments in inventory software will boost operational efficiencies

The funding is meant to support near term investments in infrastructure that builds production capacity and helps address market and supply chain challenges.

Funding

Up to 25% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of $150,000 per project.

Depending on the merit assessment of the project and funding availability, funding may be provided at either:

  • the amount or percentage requested
  • a reduced amount or percentage

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

  • Ontario agri-food businesses:
    • farms that supply Ontario food processors with their products
    • farms with production and on-site agri-food processing activities
    • food processing businesses that source a significant portion of agricultural inputs from Ontario farms
  • Ontario agri-food organizations that are not-for-profit organizations representing Ontario agri-food businesses (for the Agri-Food Supply Chain Resiliency Analysis Stream only)

Important dates

The intakes for both streams have closed.

Application process

The Supply Chain Stability and Adaptability Program is delivered by the Agricultural Adaptation Council (AAC).

Visit the program page on AAC’s website for all the program details.

Contact

For more information about the program, please contact AAC by email info@adaptcouncil.org or call 1-800-769-3272.

Expanding Job Entry Pathways

Expanding Job Entry Pathways is a new project to help agri-food businesses attract and recruit skilled workers.

This project focuses on a collaborative model that connects agri-food businesses and sector organizations with Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s Employment Ontario (EO) network of employment service agencies. Training and support is being provided to employers to help hire and retain local workers in a highly competitive job market.

The project is being coordinated by First Work, an association of member agencies delivering EO services and other employment supports.

The project aims to:

  • support agri-food employers to access local workers and employer incentives
  • increase the number of partnerships between the agri-food sector and EO’s network of employment service agencies
  • build awareness of agri-food careers among job seekers

Contact

For more information about the project, please contact First Work at info@firstwork.org.