P.E.I. farmers and food processors got some funding help for programs and services on Thursday in the form of $37 million over the next five years from the province and the federal government.
The funding will help meet the growing demand for high-quality food and take advantage of new markets in Europe, Asia and South America, explained Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay at the funding announcement at the Harrington Research Farm.
The funding is part of the $3-billion, five-year Canadian Agricultural Partnership between the provinces, territories and federal government. The $37 million for P.E.I. is comprised of 60 per cent from the federal government and 40 per cent from the province.
MacAulay said it took “a lot of hard work” to put the agreement together.
Farmers still have access to business risk management programs, but those programs are not part of the $37 million in funding, said a spokesperson.
Robert Henderson, minister of agriculture and fisheries, explained the new funding program will continue the initiatives of the expired Growing Forward 2 program, such as markets and trade, science, research and innovation and value-added agriculture and agri-food processing.
“There will be new focus on environmental sustainability, climate change and public trust,” Henderson added. “All very important issues that confront our industry.”
David Mol, president of the P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture, said he was pleased to see that the program includes climate change and public trust.
“Farming on an island with a changing climate has resulted in weather patterns that may require a certain amount of change,” he said, adding that to meet the challenge of climate change will require research and investment.
The funding will also help with public trust and food trust through projects that will create better relationships between farmers and consumers.
“That’s more and more important as we all go to the grocery store. We look at labels. We’re all concerned about what’s in it. And so, it’s to make that road from the farm to the plate more transparent.”
He added that the program will help Canadian farmers meet the federal government’s goal to increase domestic exports to $75 billion by 2025.
“CAP will be an important part of that equation,” Mol said.
“The PEIFA and its members certainly look forward to putting the investments announced today into action tomorrow.”
