Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, on behalf of Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains, and Premier Brad Wall joined representatives of the Food Centre in officially opening the $17.5-million facility in Saskatoon.

“The Government of Canada is committed to growing a strong economy. Centres of innovation, like this one in Saskatoon, will play a key role in creating jobs and new opportunities for Canadian farmers and agri-businesses, growing the economy and the middle class.”
- The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

“Over the last decade, Saskatchewan has been either the number one or number two Agri-food exporter among the provinces, and the Food Centre helps us diversify what we export. The Centre already produces “meat” products made from plants, like ginger beef and chicken fingers, and through the years has helped Saskatchewan companies like Three Farmers and Zak Organics commercialize their products. This expansion will mean the development of even more products, the creation of more jobs and the further diversification of our economy.”
- Brad Wall, Saskatchewan Premier

“The new Agri-Food Innovation Centre will broaden the capabilities of the current Food Centre and open new opportunities for Saskatchewan’s agri-food sector. It will assist Saskatchewan producers and processors to bridge the gap from development to commercialization and introduce higher value-added agricultural products into the global marketplace. With support from our industry and these enhanced services, the Agri-Food Innovation Centre will position our industry to be strong leaders in innovation and technology for the food processing sector.”
- Dan Prefontaine, Food Centre President

• Construction of the Agri-Food Innovation Centre was made possible with $9 million through Growing Forward 2, the federal-provincial agricultural policy framework, and $4.35 million from Western Economic Diversification Canada. Additional support came from SaskPulse, SaskCanola and other industry organizations and the Food Centre’s capital reserve.

• Since its inception in 1997 as a not-for-profit organization, the Food Centre has worked with clients representing various sectors of the food industry and developed more than 800 products.

• More than 300 food processing companies in Saskatchewan produce a wide range of cereal, meat, dairy and bakery products, and food ingredients. These processors ship goods valued at approximately $4.3 billion annually.

Associated Links

• Growing Forward 2 (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
• Growing Forward 2 in Saskatchewan

Lauren Golosky
Agriculture
Regina, Saskatchewan
306-787-4031
lauren.golosky@gov.sk.ca
306-520-7420 (cell)
 
Dan Prefontaine
Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. (Food Centre)
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
306-933-7175
dprefontaine@foodcentre.sk.ca
 
Rhonda Laing
Director, Policy, Planning and External Relations
Western Economic Diversification Canada
306-975-5944
rhonda.laing@canada.ca
 
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
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