Governments helping boost production of Ontario maple syrup

From: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

News release

Canada and Ontario investment will help 77 maple syrup producers enhance operations

March 5, 2024 – Toronto, Ontario  –  Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing more than $1 million through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to support the productivity and growth of businesses in the province’s maple syrup sector.

The Maple Production Improvement Initiative is supporting 77 maple syrup producers with cost-shared funding to support a range of activities to enhance their operations. The initiative supports the purchase and installation of upgraded equipment for eligible syrup producers, that will increase productivity, efficiency and growth, such as reverse osmosis or remote monitoring systems. It also provides funding to cover a portion of woodlot management activities, including tree marking and the development of a forest plan, to assist the operation of eligible businesses.

This initiative was developed following discussions with sector businesses. It builds on other actions the government has taken to support the overall growth of the agriculture and food industry, such as recent investments of up to $12 million through the Grow Ontario Market Initiative, up to $25 million through the Agri-tech Innovation Initiative and more than $68 million through the Ontario Agricultural Sustainability Initiative.

Sustainable CAP is a 5-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 cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs designed and delivered by the provinces and territories.

Quotes

“Ontario’s maple syrup producers work hard to produce top-quality products that are enjoyed around the world. This funding will help them to increase efficiency and upgrade their equipment to keep their maple businesses growing.”

- The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

 

“Maple syrup is a quintessentially Canadian treat and this program is designed to expand the size, efficiency and competitiveness of Ontario’s maple syrup sector. Through the Maple Production Improvement Initiative, we’re working to increase production, supporting specific growth targets laid out in our Grow Ontario Strategy.”

- The Honourable Lisa Thompson, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

“On behalf of our members, we thank both ministers and their staff for this support to Ontario maple syrup producers. This is a great first step to mutually grow the maple syrup sector in Ontario.”

- Randal Goodfellow, President, Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association

Quick facts

  • The Maple Production Improvement Initiative has been delivered by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA). Applications were received starting November 9, 2023.

  • Ontario government calculations suggest over 1,000 jobs and close to $42 million in gross domestic product (GDP) were attributed to the maple industry value chain (farm, processing and retail), in 2022.

  • Ontario is Canada’s third-largest maple syrup producing province, behind Quebec and New Brunswick. In 2022, it produced 4.5 per cent of Canada’s maple syrup or about 2.68 million litres of syrup.

  • Building sector capacity and growth through realizing the potential of value added agri-food and agri-products were among the top priorities set for Sustainable CAP by the federal-provincial-territorial agricultural ministers in The Guelph Statement.

  • Maple Weekend is April 6-7, in Ontario. Consider visiting a participating maple producer to check out the festivities.

Associated links

Contacts

For media:

Francis Chechile
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
francis.chechile@agr.gc.ca

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca
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Sam McCormick
Office of the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Sam.McCormick@ontario.ca

Connie Osborne
Communications Branch
OMAFRA.media@ontario.ca 

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