Canada Agriculture Minister announces investments in Alberta and Ontario

Canadian Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald has completed outreach tours in southern Alberta and southern Ontario to engage with the agricultural and food processing sectors.

In Alberta, MacDonald announced an investment of nearly $900,000 for SmartGRO Bioengineering Inc. under the Agricultural Clean Technology Program. This funding, in partnership with Hydragreens vertical farm, aims to scale clean lighting technology to improve energy efficiency in indoor agriculture. The initiative is part of a broader $750 million investment in controlled environment agriculture through the National Food Security Strategy.

In Ontario, the Minister highlighted the $1 billion Agri-Food Project Financing Fund managed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. He also announced $150 million for Velocity Agri-Capital Partners as part of a $2 billion commitment to FAC Capital. These funds are intended to support agri-food infrastructure for mid-sized businesses to enhance national food security and global competitiveness. The tour included visits to various sites, such as Arva Flour Mills and Nuhn Industries, to discuss industry resilience and innovation.