March 5, 2015 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The Canada and Manitoba governments will invest nearly $1.5 million in 289 on-farm food safety projects, Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Minister Ron Kostyshyn announced today.
Manitoba farmers applied for funding to improve biosecurity, traceability, food safety and quality, and animal health practices on their farms. Governments provided up to 65 per cent of total eligible costs.
More than half of all projects (165) will take place on hog farms. Projects were also approved for beef (46), poultry (40) and bee (22) operations. Sixteen projects were funded on dairy, horticulture, grains and oilseeds and other livestock farms.
Projects are funded under Growing Forward 2's Growing Assurance – Food Safety On-Farm program. To be eligible, producers must have also implemented a national on-farm food safety program for their commodity.
The federal and provincial governments are investing $176 million in Manitoba under Growing Forward 2, a five-year, federal-provincial-territorial policy framework to advance the agriculture industry, helping producers and processors become more innovative and competitive in world markets. For more information about Growing Assurance, go to www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/growing-forward-2 under Strategic Initiatives.
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
Caedmon Malowany
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Ron Kostyshyn
204 945-1494
