Winnipeg, Manitoba, April 22, 2013 – Today, Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced the Growing Forward 2 program details for the agricultural sector in Manitoba. The announcement signals the beginning of the Canada-Manitoba Growing Forward 2 bilateral agreement.
“Our Government remains focused on creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for Manitoba’s agricultural industry,” said Ritz. “Today’s Growing Forward 2 agreement provides flexible, innovative programming for Manitoba’s hard-working producers to ensure they have the tools they need to remain competitive and expand into new markets.”
Growing Forward 2 is a renewed commitment by the federal, provincial and territorial governments to ensure productivity and profitability for Canada’s agricultural sector. With a focus on innovation, competitiveness, and market development, Growing Forward 2 programs will help the industry seize future opportunities and realize its full potential as a major driver of the Canadian economy. Programs are also tailored with the flexibility to meet diverse Manitoba regional requirements.
“These investments in Manitoba farm families and businesses will help create a foundation for continued prosperity and growth in a changing global market,” said Kostyshyn. “Growing Forward 2 programs will also ensure farm families are protected from losses caused by the more frequent and severe flooding we are now experiencing in Manitoba.”
Manitoba’s Growing Forward 2 priorities focus on three areas: competitiveness and market development, innovation, and adaptability and industry capacity. The first cost-shared initiative to be launched is directed at Growing Assurance programs and includes beneficial management practices (BMPs) that support environmental farm plans.
“Keystone Agricultural Producers is pleased the Environmental Farm Plan program will continue, and we anticipate continued positive response from producers,” said Doug Chorney, KAP president. “Manitoba farmers have great respect for our water and land resources, and through the assistance announced today we will be able to add to the 8.8 million acres that have already been assessed for best management practices.”
The new five-year Growing Forward 2 agreement represents a Canada-Manitoba investment of $176 million towards strategic initiatives, a 50 percent increase in cost-shared funding, as well as $1 billion for federal-only strategic initiatives. The federal government has announced details of its three federal programs: AgriInnovation, AgriMarketing and AgriCompetitiveness.
Under Growing Forward 2 governments will continue to offer ongoing funding for a complete and effective suite of Business Risk Management (BRM) programs to ensure farmers are protected against severe market volatility and natural disasters.
For more information on the national Growing Forward 2 initiatives, visit agriculture.canada.ca/GrowingForward2.
Information on cost-shared Growing Forward 2 programs in Manitoba visit www.manitoba.ca/agriculture and click on the Growing Forward 2 icon.
Applications, terms and conditions will be available on line as programs are launched.
For more information, media may contact:
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Jeff English
Press Secretary
The Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059
Elizabeth Soto
Cabinet Communications
Province of Manitoba
204-945-1494
Growing Innovation
This program cultivates activities directed at research and on-farm innovation by providing financial support for state-of-the-art organizations, agencies and farms to conduct innovation-driven projects.
Growing Value
This program is directed at farms’ and agri-processors’ transformational activities that promote value added product development, commercialization and bringing innovation to market by contributing to strategic investments.
Growing Actions
This program is directed at advancing industry-led strategic development by providing targeted funding to agricultural organizations, including industry-based strategies along the entire value chain, for development related to market-based opportunities and challenges.
Growing Assurance
Projects supported by this program will help to build strong foundations by advancing assessment, adoption and implementation of environmental, food safety, animal welfare, plant and animal health, biosecurity and traceability systems and activities that support national initiatives.
Growing Visions
Projects under this program will help to boost industry capacity by assisting agricultural and rural organizations. Funding is available to help develop and implement strategic plans that position the organization to lead the sector forward.
Growing Adaptation
This program is directed at secure water management projects, helping to create sustainable systems to secure adequate, quality water supplies for agricultural, agri-food and agri-business purposes in rural areas.
Growing Competitiveness
Businesses and business leaders can apply for financial support for skill and knowledge development through this program, with additional supports for group training and individual training for young farmers as well as young agri-food and agri-product processors.
