Government of Canada investment helps southern Ontario’s agri-food companies scale

From: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

News release

Businesses will grow with support from an over $12-million investment in agri-food sector

March 4, 2025 – Oakville, Ontario  

From farm to table, Canada's agri-food sector connects farmers, suppliers, and processors to deliver fresh, nutritious, local food while driving economic growth, creating jobs, and strengthening communities. That is why the Government of Canada is investing in businesses to support the growth of the agri-food sector and build a stronger, more sustainable future for Canadians.

Today, the Honourable Ruby Sahota, Minister of Democratic Institutions and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), along with the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade and Member of Parliament for Oakville, visited Gastronomous Technologies (Gastronomous). Minister Sahota also met with representatives from the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN), a national not-for-profit organization that connects the Canadian food ecosystem to fresh insights, ideas, and technologies to grow their business and increase their innovation capacity.

To support these efforts, Minister Sahota announced over $2.7 million to launch the Unpuzzle Mentorship Program for foodtech entrepreneurs, as well as the FoodTech NOW Funding Program. Through these programs, CFIN will help participants grow their businesses as they commercialize new products and develop advanced technologies for use in the southern Ontario food manufacturing sector.

Minister Sahota also announced over $9.3 million for six other agri-food companies and organizations: Agrocrop Exports Ltd., CATTLEytics Inc., Eastern Ontario Agri-Food Network, Original Foods Limited, VEL Bars and Vive Crop Protection, supporting their growth, productivity and competitiveness  in the agri sector across southern Ontario. Information on the projects is included in the backgrounder.   

The Government of Canada is committed to working with local partners to strengthen and support Canada’s agri-food sector by investing in projects that promote regional growth, economic development and the adoption of sustainable technologies, while supplying fresh local foods to fuel Canadians.

Quotes

“Our government is committed to supporting Canada's agri-food sector as it drives innovation, creates jobs, and strengthens communities. Now more than ever, we need Canadian products to ensure a resilient and sustainable food supply, and by investing in key initiatives, we are empowering entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and contribute to a prosperous future for all Canadians.”
 – The Honourable Ruby Sahota, Minister of Democratic Institutions and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario 

“By investing in food innovation, we’re strengthening Canada’s food ecosystem, creating jobs, and advancing technologies that will shape the future of the sector and unlock productivity. With this funding from FedDev Ontario, we’re empowering foodtech entrepreneurs to turn their bold ideas into commercial success for themselves and the food companies who are their customers."
 – Dana McCauley, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Food Innovation Network

Quick facts

  • As a member of the CFIN network, Gastronomous received an investment of over $1.9 million through CFIN’s Food Innovation Challenge to develop smart, connected kitchen equipment – ranging from food ingredient preparation to the accurate, automated portioning and dispensing of those ingredients.

  • Established in 2021, the Canadian Food Innovation Network is a national organization with more than 6,000 members from across the food value chain, including manufacturers, processors, distributors, operators, tech companies, funders and innovators.

  • The Unpuzzle Program is a peer mentorship initiative that will help food entrepreneurs tackle common innovation challenges such as navigating hurdles associated with new technology development, access to financial support and gaining market insights. The FoodTech NOW Funding Program will provide funding for foodtech entrepreneurs to support them in testing their innovative technologies, including those with a focus on improving efficiency, automation, and the adoption of AI or sustainable packaging, and the use of innovative ingredients in products.

  • Incorporated in 2001 Agrocrop Exports Ltd. is a large dry-goods processor of beans, lentils and peas. It  produces private-label products and provides co-packing services, supplying major retailers in Canada, Europe, and the U.S.

  • Founded in 2014 in Hamilton, CATTLEytics Inc. is a woman-led agri-tech company that merges sustainable farming practices with cutting-edge AI and machine learning to help  farmers with proactive, advanced tools for staff management, farm operations, animal health management, and environmental stewardship.

  • Incorporated in 2010, the Eastern Ontario Agri-Food Network is a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to supporting the development, growth and sustainability of local food and agricultural initiatives in Eastern Ontario.

  • Established in 1947, Original Foods Limited is a national food manufacturer producing sauces, spreads, bakery fillings/icings, ready-to-drink coffee and confectionery.

  • Family-owned and operated since 1986, K L Foods Inc. (o/a VEL Bars) specializes in high-quality cereal bars using premium ingredients.

  • Founded in 2006, Vive Crop Protection is an Agri-tech company that develops Precision Chemistry solutions based on existing active ingredients for pesticides using its patented “Allosperse” nano technology for the crop protection industry.

  • Since 2015, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has invested over $180 million in over 70 agri-food projects, supporting over 8,000 jobs.

Associated links

Contacts

Cindy Caturao
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Democratic Institutions and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario
cindy.caturao@feddevontario.gc.ca

FedDev Ontario
Media Relations
Media@FedDevOntario.gc.ca

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