The cost-shared funding, provided through the Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative will help 30 food processors lower their energy costs to be more competitive and sustainable. The Initiative is focused on supporting projects that prioritize energy efficiency by investing in new technology, equipment, as well as building or facility modifications. This funding will contribute to an anticipated $3 million in annual operational cost savings for recipient businesses.

“It’s vitally important that we continue to strengthen the agri-food sector in Ontario and right across the country,” said the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “This new funding will help our food processors make their operations more sustainable and energy efficient while protecting their bottom line.”

Under the Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative, applicants could receive up to 20 percent cost share funding for eligible costs, to a maximum of $300,000, per business. Projects supported through the initiative are to be completed by March 31, 2025.

“Ontario is the food processing hub of Canada, and our government is bringing forward a number of programs like the Agri-food Energy Cost Savings Initiative to create the best environment for this sector to continue to grow, produce more food and provide more jobs,” said Lisa Thompson, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Through this Initiative and a host of other actions, we’re making significant progress in achieving the ambitious targets set out in our Grow Ontario Strategy.”

Some examples of investments made through this initiative included:

The Agri-Food Energy Cost Savings Initiative was developed following discussions with Ontario’s food processing industry. It is part of a series of initiatives the government has implemented to support food processing in the province, including committing up to $25 million through the Agri-Tech Innovative Initiative, which applications open on February 15, 2024.

Sustainable CAP is a five-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 percent federally and 40 percent provincially/territorially for programs designed and delivered by the provinces and territories.

According to news.ontario.ca