Support For Innovative Local Food Production
Food producers looking to expand their product line or improve their processing can access funding from the 2024-25 Value-Adding Equipment Program.
“We are supporting food being produced here in Nova Scotia,” said Greg Morrow, Minister of Agriculture. “This program helps rural agricultural businesses innovate and increase food production, making new, exciting products or scaling up an existing value-added business.”
Value added refers to the addition of ingredients or processes to produce higher-valued food products or improve the way a food product is made. Funding will be available to agricultural food processing businesses doing value-added processing on-site.
The Value-Adding Equipment Program is designed to help build capacity, competitiveness and growth in the Nova Scotia agriculture sector by providing funding to adopt new and improved processes and technologies.
Now in its second year, the program is funded through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Last year, the program helped 38 value-added food producers enhance their production.
Applications are open until June 30 and are available at: https://novascotia.ca/programs/value-adding-equipment/
Quotes:
“New equipment can be expensive, making it hard for agricultural businesses to expand and innovate. This program will help businesses in Nova Scotia reduce some of their costs, so they can create new products, improve their efficiency and increase food production to feed communities right across the province.”
— Lawrence MacAulay, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
“We’re proud to produce quality feta cheese at our family-run business right here in Nova Scotia. Last year’s Value-Adding Equipment Program helped us improve efficiency in our processing and introduce a brand new line of products that helped us serve new customers like new Canadians who appreciate our authentic flavours and line of Mediterranean cheese.”
— Susan Tziolas, co-founder, Holmestead Cheese Sales Ltd., Aylesford, Kings County
“We are thrilled to be growing our cider company here in Cape Breton. The Value-Adding Equipment Program has allowed us to keep growing by purchasing our own on-site canning system. It will allow us to maximize our production schedule, create efficiencies and package more product in cans, which will help the environment and is appreciated by our customers.”
— Jill McPherson, founder, Island Folk Cider House, Sydney
Quick Facts:
- the Value-Adding Equipment Program is supported with a $475,000 investment this year, cost-shared between the Nova Scotia and federal governments
- guidelines for the 2024-25 program have been updated in consultation with industry, the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Perennia, the provincial development agency focused on the agriculture, seafood and food and beverage sectors
- value-added modifications eligible for funding may include value-added processing equipment and the cost of installing it
- the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year (2023-2028), $3.5-billion agreement between the federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation and resilience of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector
- this includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and $2.5 billion that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories
Additional Resources:
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/department/initiatives/sustainable-canadian-agricultural-partnership
Perennia: https://www.perennia.ca/