Harper Government Supporting Innovative Food Processing

News Release

February 11, 2015 – Mississauga, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz today announced an investment of $3 million to support a new research cluster led by the Canadian Food Innovators (CFI).

This investment will help the food and beverage processing industry in developing new processes that enhance quality while managing food safety risks, as well as new products that deliver health and wellness attributes marketed to health-conscious consumers. The research activities will focus on eggs, meat, fruits, vegetables and cereals.

Quick Facts

Established in 2013, the Canadian Food Innovators serves the Canadian Council of Food Processors (CCFP), which represents seven regional food processing trade associations across Canada.
The Canadian Food Processing Innovation and Prosperity Cluster is the first-of-its-kind and responds to industry demands to invest research dollars into capturing new economic opportunities for the processing sector while enhancing the competitiveness of the entire food value chain.
In 2013, Canada's food and beverage processing sector had export sales of over $23 billion.
This investment is made through AgriInnovation Program, a five-year, up to $698-million initiative under Growing Forward 2.

Quote

"Our Government remains focused on the economy, and Canada's food and beverage sector is a major contributor in creating jobs and economic growth. This cluster will work to improve the competiveness of the food and beverage processing sector, create prosperity for the entire food value chain, and open up new market opportunities for our hard-working farmers."
– Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz

"This strategic investment by the Government of Canada in innovation in Canada's food processing sector is important to our competitiveness. It is enabling Canadian food enterprises to work collaboratively with leading researchers at Canadian universities, Canada's food tech centres, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's research centres to solve problems, make new discoveries, and improve products and processes. Canadian consumers and our international customers will all benefit from this commitment to innovation."
– David Shambrock, Chairman, Canadian Food Innovators

Additional links

Growing Forward 2 (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
AgriInnovation Program (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
Canadian Council of Food Processors

Contacts

Jeff English
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada

David Shambrock
Chairman
Canadian Food Innovators
204-982-6372 x102
Dave_Shambrock@mfpa.mb.ca or info@ccfp-ccta.com

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Harper Government Supporting Innovative Food Processing

News Release

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